October 28, 2024
2 mins read

PM appoints former Blair, Brown aide as political director

Reynolds’ job is part of a wider Downing Street shake-up that Starmer has overseen after removing Sue Gray as his chief of staff….reports Asian Lite News

Keir Starmer has appointed a former aide to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown as his new political director in Downing Street. The prime minister has given the senior role to Claire Reynolds, the director of Labour Women’s Network, who was credited with helping get 100 new female MPs elected this summer.

Reynolds, who is also the wife of the business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, will have to handle the sensitive task of liaising with Labour’s 403 MPs during what are likely to be a difficult first few years in power.

A Labour source said: “We couldn’t have someone better qualified than Claire to be leading relationships between No 10, the Labour party and our politicians. Claire’s been a candidate, councillor, adviser and organiser, building a fantastic network across the party, and she has supported hundreds, particularly women, to achieve their full potential in the party.”

Reynolds’ job is part of a wider Downing Street shake-up that Starmer has overseen after removing Sue Gray as his chief of staff. Gray’s position has been taken by Starmer’s long-term ally Morgan McSweeney, who is now being supported by two deputy chiefs of staff. One of those, Vidhya Alakeson, was the political director until her promotion.

As the head of Labour Women’s Network, Reynolds trained hundreds of women for roles at different levels of government and as Labour candidates. She previously worked in No 10 under Brown and Blair. As well as working as a Labour councillor, she has also served as a European election candidate, a chair of school governors and the national secretary of Labour Students.

In her new role, which is paid for by the Labour party, she will be in charge of maintaining good relations across the parliamentary party, even as Starmer announces a series of unpopular decisions that he says are necessary to repair public services.

The first test of her ability to manage those fraught relations is likely to come this week as the chancellor prepares to unveil billions of pounds of tax rises and spending cuts as part of Labour’s first budget in 15 years.

ALSO READ: UK Govt to ban disposable vapes from June 2025 

Previous Story

Australia, UK to power up cooperation on climate, energy

Next Story

UK Govt announces support to help Uganda fight mpox  

Latest from -Top News

Afghan-Pak tensions threaten South Asian stability

The Afghanistan-Pakistan fighting has impacted civilians on both sides, with people fleeing the border areas while daily movement and trade has been disrupted…reports Asian Lite News The recent tensions between Afghanistan and

Fourth AUSTRAHIND exercise begins in Australia

Primary focus of this year’s exercise is “joint company level counter-terrorism operations in urban terrain and semi urban terrain…reports Asian Lite News The fourth edition of the India-Australia joint military exercise, AUSTRAHIND,

Sanae Takaichi makes history in Japan

From 2022 to 2024, Takaichi was Japan’s Economic Security Minister. She also holds the record as the longest-serving Minister for Internal Affairs…reports Asian Lite News Sanae Takaichi was elected Japan’s next Prime

Cabinet of Japan PM Ishiba steps down

After the prime ministerial vote, Takaichi will finalise cabinet appointments, and the chief cabinet secretary is scheduled to announce the lineup….reports Asian Lite News Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned with
Go toTop

Don't Miss

UK Govt go-ahead to £38bn Sizewell C nuclear plant

The project in Suffolk will be jointly funded by Canadian

UK Universities See Surge in Applications

A couple paid 30,000 pounds to secure a student visa