As British Members of Parliament returned from their summer recess on September 1, 2025, Sir Keir Starmer unveiled a significant shake-up at the heart of Downing Street, signaling what he described as a new phase for his government. The changes, which span both political and advisory roles, are designed to sharpen the government’s focus on economic growth, public service delivery, and communications, as the Labour administration seeks to accelerate its domestic agenda after its first year in office.
At the center of this revamp is Darren Jones, a rising star within the Labour Party, who has been appointed to the newly created position of chief secretary to the Prime Minister. According to BBC News, Jones will be based at No 10 and will attend Cabinet, marking a rare move for a sitting MP to take on such a backroom role in Downing Street. Previously, Jones served as chief secretary to the Treasury, where he led the government’s spending review in June, shaping funding allocations for the next five years. Now, he is tasked with directly overseeing work across government to support the delivery of the Prime Minister’s priorities and the broader "Plan for Change."
Explaining the rationale behind these appointments, Sir Keir told BBC Radio 5 Live that the shake-up would make the center of government "more powerful" and enable him to drive through his key priorities. "We’ve fixed the foundations by securing economic stability, delivering three major trade deals, and becoming the fastest growing economy in the G7 – but we still have work to do to build an economy that works for working people," Chancellor Rachel Reeves added, as quoted by Civil Service World.
The changes in Downing Street triggered a mini-reshuffle at the Treasury. James Murray, who previously served as exchequer secretary, was promoted to chief secretary to the Treasury, effectively becoming Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ deputy and attending Cabinet. Dan Tomlinson, a Labour MP elected in 2024 and an economist by training, was appointed exchequer secretary to the Treasury—his first ministerial role. This reshuffling ensures continuity and fresh perspective at the Treasury as the government approaches its autumn budget, where tough decisions on tax and spending are expected.
Economic expertise has been further bolstered by the recruitment of Baroness Minouche Shafik as chief economic adviser to the Prime Minister. Shafik, who recently stepped down as president of Columbia University in New York, brings a wealth of experience, having previously served as deputy governor of the Bank of England and as a permanent secretary at the now-defunct Department for International Development. According to Civil Service World, No 10 stated that she will "support the government to go further and faster in driving economic growth and raising living standards for all." In August, she also began chairing a government review on international development and capability improvement.
In another move aimed at boosting economic strategy, John Van Reenen, a professor at the London School of Economics and former chair of the Chancellor’s Council of Economic Advisers, has been appointed as a new growth adviser to Chancellor Reeves. Van Reenen will serve in an unpaid, one-day-per-week capacity for 12 months, focusing on the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth and raise living standards. "I am delighted to continue working with the chancellor in this advisory role –utilising my research and experience to help drive forward productivity, investment and ultimately growth into the UK," Van Reenen said, according to Civil Service World.
The shake-up also extends to the government’s communications team. Tim Allan, a former adviser to Tony Blair’s government, has been named executive director of communications, a role intended to improve messaging and public engagement across the administration. This follows the departure of James Lyons, who had served as director of strategic communications within No 10 for just under a year. Lyons, a former print journalist, remarked as he left, "My role at the heart of Government was never intended as a long haul." His exit is one in a string of high-profile departures from No 10 over the past year, including chief of staff Sue Gray last October and communications director Matthew Doyle in March.
Further backroom changes include the movement of Ninjeri Pandit, the Prime Minister’s principal private secretary appointed in October 2024, to a new role leading policy delivery in No 10. Daniel York-Smith has been brought in to replace Pandit, ensuring continuity in the Prime Minister’s private office. These shifts, according to government insiders cited by The Telegraph, are part of a broader effort to "bolster the Downing Street operation as this government delivers on the country’s priorities: growth people feel in their pockets, secure borders, and getting the NHS back on its feet."
The timing of these changes is notable. The return of Parliament from recess marks what No 10 described as "a new term and a ramping up of the next phase of this government’s domestic agenda – relentless delivery on our Plan for Change." Despite speculation about a wider reshuffle of junior ministers, government sources told The Telegraph that no such reshuffle was expected in the first week of September.
Yet, not everyone is convinced that the shake-up spells stability. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake was quick to criticize the moves, calling them "chaotic" and a sign of a Downing Street "in crisis." In a statement quoted by both BBC News and The Telegraph, Hollinrake said, "This chaotic reshuffle shows a Downing Street in crisis – totally distracted from fixing the damage they've done to the economy, jobs and small businesses. It’s like firefighters arguing about the hose whilst the house burns down. Inflation has doubled, borrowing costs have soared, and Britain is on the brink of a debt crisis, with working people left to pay the price through higher taxes. Only the Conservatives, under new leadership, will take a responsible approach to the public finances and ensure our economy grows whilst we live within our means."
Sir Keir, however, remains undeterred. He told BBC Radio 5 Live that the changes are about moving into "phase two" of his government’s plan, having spent the first year "fixing the foundations" of the British state. The Prime Minister’s strategy appears clear: surround himself with seasoned experts, streamline his team, and double down on the delivery of his core promises—economic growth, effective public services, and secure borders.
Whether this new configuration will yield the results Sir Keir and his team hope for remains to be seen. But as Parliament resumes and the government’s new term begins, the stakes—and the scrutiny—have never been higher for Labour’s Downing Street operation.
