Departures and new hires expected to give PM more direct oversight of delivery of key government priorities
A reshuffle on the Monday morning before parliament returned from recess had been long rumoured, but many in Westminster had expected a shake-up of junior ministers rather than Downing Street.
Staff in No 10 were gathered in awkward silence at 9.30am in the Pillared Room to wait for the prime minister to explain the changes, many of whom had thus far only read about them online.
The departures and new hires are expected to signal a new understanding about the need for experienced hands in government and to give Keir Starmer more direct oversight over the delivery of key government priorities, especially on the economy.
But some of the hires – particularly those from the Tony Blair era – have already proved controversial.
