Starmer Accused Of Being 'Staggeringly Unprepared For Government' After No.10 Shake-Up

PM Keir Starmer has rejigged his top staff in No.10.Keir Starmer has been accused of being “staggeringly unprepared for government” after he decided to shake-up his top team inside No.10.The prime minister has re-organised the body of advisers closest to him after a particularly turbulent year which has seen both Starmer’s approval ratings and Labour’s poll numbers tank.The government has faced intense backlash over the last year over everything from its poor handling of the small boats crisis to its failed attempts to grow the economy.It also caused particular outrage – even among its own backbenchers – over its plans to cut welfare benefits in a bid to balance the books.Today, the PM announced he has promoted Darren Jones, formerly Rachel Reeves’ number two in the Treasury, to take on the newly-created role as chief secretary to the prime minister.Crossbench peer Baroness Shafik, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, has been appointed Starmer’s chief economic advisor.Treasury official Dan York Smith is also moving to become the PM’s principal private secretary.He will be replacing Nin Pandit, who HuffPost UK revealed last week will lead a new delivery unit in No.10.But, economist Paul Johnson – former head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) – pointed out how bizarre it was that these changes are occurring after Labour have already been in power for a year.“It’s extraordinary, more than a year into this government, they’re only just working out that they might need some senior economic expertise within Number 10, both at a political level and at the advisor level,” Johnson told Times Radio. “It’s yet another example, I think, of how staggeringly unprepared this government was for government, despite the fact that they essentially knew they were going to win the election some considerable time out.“I think it is important for the prime minister to be able to have conversations at an equal level with the chancellor but what they really mustn’t end up doing is having rows between the two of them, having different focuses and different senses of direction. That way real chaos lies.”The Conservatives’ chair Kevin Hollinrake expressed a similar sentiment in a statement. He 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.”However, the prime minister’s spokesperson defended the moves earlier today, telling reporters that the reshuffle “reflects the prime minister’s view that phase one of this government was about fixing the foundations and the second phase has to be about a relentless focus on delivery.”Asked about why Starmer felt the need to appoint a chief secretary, the PM’s press secretary said: “The prime minister came into government with commitment to deliver change for working people. He spent the first year getting on with that job.“Of course, the prime minister is always determined to make sure that we are straining every sinew to deliver for the British people. That is what they rightly expect and what he comes to work and focuses on every single day.”Related...Keir Starmer's No.10 Shake-Up Is An Admission His Government Is In Crisis5 Major Challenges Facing Keir Starmer As MPs Return From Their Summer HolidaysExclusive: Keir Starmer Launches Fresh No.10 Shake-Up Amid Polling Slump

Comments

Breaking news

Man arrested after two women killed five months apart in London

Metro

What other good news will be available now? In preparation for the government to give one more gift after the GST reform, know who will benefit

about 2 hours ago

Texas pushes Lord’s prayer in public schools after losing legal battle over Ten Commandments in classrooms

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Richard Tice stumbles in grilling over Keir Starmer and Kim Jong Un comparison

Rayner on the brink: Sleaze report into Deputy PM could come TODAY after lawyers denied advising her not to pay full stamp duty - and Starmer hinted he IS ready to sack her

Angela Rayner faces judgement day with Starmer ready to act over ethics report: UK politics live

Farage warns Labour chaos will force Starmer into 2027 general election

Nigel Farage tells his party to prepare for a 2027 General Election as he warns economic woes will force Keir Starmer's hand

Starmer is 'prepared to sack Angela Rayner' if she broke rules after lawyers accused her of making them 'a scapegoat' - as report into tax fiasco is due TODAY

Starmer must not meet the Israeli President when he visits the UK, Labour MPs say

Probe launched after plot to play 'sex noises' behind Starmer during PMQs uncovered

Keir Starmer Delivers Stark Warning To Donald Trump About His Attitude Towards Putin

Pressure mounts on Rayner as Starmer refuses to back her staying in post over tax dodge row

'Sex noises' prank spotted just before Keir Starmer took stage at PMQs

Starmer considering digital ID scheme to tackle illegal migration

TONY BLAIR INSTITUTE: Digital ID will help Keir Starmer solve immigration dirty secret

Keir Starmer hits out at 'appalling' vandalism at Angela Rayner's flat as Deputy PM's new seaside home is daubed with 'tax evader' graffiti amid stamp duty row

Keir Starmer Condemns 'Appalling' Attack On Angela Rayner's Home

Should Keir Starmer stick by Angela Rayner after stamp duty tax row? Vote in our poll

Starmer ‘determined’ to save Angela Rayner amid tax dodge probe

Nigel Farage meets Donald Trump in the Oval Office after hitting out at Keir Starmer's 'awful, authoritarian' UK over civil liberties

What a difference two months makes! From Rayner smiling as Reeves wept in the Commons to yesterday as the tables were turned amid Starmer's ministerial mayhem

Angela Rayner's position is indefensible, hopeless and shameful. If Starmer fails to sack her, it will be an ineradicable stain on his government: STEPHEN GLOVER

Breaking news

Man arrested after two women killed five months apart in London

Burlesque dancers fundraise for defibrillator after dad has heart attack at show

Schoolkids are unknowingly smoking vapes filled with ‘zombie drug’ spice

We will never sleep again after Reform mayor performs self-penned song Insomniac

Keir Starmer's Plans For 'Phase Two' Of His Government Left In Tatters By Rayner Scandal

What Are 'Neptune Balls,' The Microplastic-Filled Clumps Washing Up On Beaches?

Asia Cup 2025: India's brilliant victory, beat Thailand 11-0

Mystery behind primitive horned skull fused to a cave WALL is finally solved

ICC Rule Book Ep 37: What is the ICC Rule about Obstructing the Field game?

Why is America forgotten the bloody history of its apartheid policy, giving India a speech on racism?- Read

What other good news will be available now? In preparation for the government to give one more gift after the GST reform, know who will benefit

Texas pushes Lord’s prayer in public schools after losing legal battle over Ten Commandments in classrooms

British woman who vanished a month ago on Greek holiday found dead, husband says

Pope feeds fish as he opens Vatican's ambitious model of sustainable farming and education

Mapped: Where deadly ‘kissing bug’ disease Chagas has spread in the US

A death row inmate says judges are ruled by Satan as he tries to avoid execution

2 people die in small plane crash near suburban Denver airport

For some, a COVID-19 vaccine means jumping through hoops or hitting the road

Canada's Carney to delay EV mandate as country deals with Trump's tariffs

Cabinet reshuffle live: Starmer makes Lammy deputy PM and Cooper foreign secretary after Rayner resignation

Thousands of newborn stars dazzle in the latest snapshot by NASA's Webb Space Telescope

From slaughterhouse worker to literary giant: George Saunders wins National Book Award

Asia will get a prime view of this weekend's total lunar eclipse

Takeaways from AP reporting on Israeli strike on Gaza hospital that killed journalists and medics

Google hit with $3.5 billion fine from European Union in ad-tech antitrust case

Trump’s nominee to lead BLS accused of trolling top Democrats with offensive Twitter account

How did Angela Rayner manage to underpay stamp duty? A legal expert explains

Spanish minister says Israeli cycling team should be expelled from Vuelta after protest

Long in the shadows, a new generation of songwriters gain recognition and success as artists

Australia's defense minister visits a frigate in Japan as the countries boost defense ties

Trump says it’s time to end Epstein ‘hoax’ and tries to blame Democrats for ‘befriending’ and ‘socializing’ with him

‘TJ Maxx shoplifters’ thwarted after fast-foot pit stop during getaway: ‘Felonies do not come with a side of fries’

Thai appeals court finds 5 activists guilty of trying to block royal motorcade in 2020

Voices: Readers clash over digital ID cards – from ‘Big Brother state’ fears to ‘making life easier’

FTSE 100 down as US jobs market stalls in August

Further 24 people charged over showing support for Palestine Action

Donald Trump to rename Pentagon ‘Department of War’

Scientists tap 'secret' fresh water under the ocean, raising hopes for a thirsty world

Hamas releases video showing Israeli hostages held in Gaza

Shiite ministers walk out as Lebanon's cabinet debates army plan to disarm Hezbollah

Starmer cabinet reshuffle: Who is in and who is out as PM overhauls his top team

Trump’s undermining Europe’s new world order - much to Putin’s glee

Pentagon-funded research at colleges has aided the Chinese military, a House GOP report says

British tourists in Iceland accused of ‘keeping whale meat industry alive’

Why gossiping with your partner could be key to a healthy relationship

Campaigners call for public inquiry over deadline for pylon consultation

Bodycare: Locations of 32 stores to close

Farage falsely accuses Rayner of avoiding paying council tax after deputy PM resigns

Elon Musk could become world’s first trillionaire under new Tesla pay deal

Farage no. 10: Reform selling football shirts in party colours at Birmingham conference

The Latest: US employers added just 22,000 jobs last month amid uncertainty over Trump’s policies

Lisbon’s double miracle: Father feared dead in funicular crash found alive after toddler son rescued from wreckage

Farage predicts 2027 general election in warning over Labour ‘rift’

Takeaways from a hunt for 'secret' fresh water under the North Atlantic seabed

Trump hits out at media over death rumours as he is forced to address health concerns again

Israel strikes Gaza City high-rise building while ramping up offensive to take over the area

Graham Linehan says grabbing trans activist’s phone was ‘reflex response’ after taunts about divorce