Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Darren Jones as chief secretary to the Prime Minister, a new ministerial role that will see him attend Cabinet. Jones, who was previously chief secretary to the Treasury, will be based at No 10 and oversee work across Government to support the Prime Minister’s priorities. James Murray will replace him as Treasury chief secretary, effectively acting as deputy to Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson has taken Murray’s role as exchequer secretary.

Sir Keir’s wider team moves also include Baroness Minouche Shafik being named the government’s chief economic adviser, an economist and former president of Columbia University. She has also served as deputy governor of the Bank of England and permanent secretary at the Department for International Development. Tim Allan, a former adviser to Tony Blair, has been appointed the Government’s executive director of communications. James Lyons, who had been director of strategic communications within No 10, has left his role. Nin Pandit, the Prime Minister’s principal private secretary, will take on a new post in September leading on the delivery of key priorities in No 10, with Daniel York-Smith replacing her.

It was part of a string of high-profile departures from No 10 in less than a year, after chief of staff Sue Gray left last October and communications director Matthew Doyle in March. There have been rumours that junior ministers would face a reshuffle when MPs returned from their summer recess. Government insiders have said no reshuffle will take place, at least in the first week of September. Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative Party chairman, 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.”