Keir Starmer sidelined Rachel Reeves yesterday as he used a major shake-up of Government to tighten his grip on economic policy.
In a sign that he plans to take personal charge of the autumn Budget, the Prime Minister appointed his own economic guru and poached the Chancellor’s deputy and chief tax adviser to join his team.
The move is designed to prevent the PM being ‘blindsided’ by the Treasury again after U-turns over winter fuel payments and benefit cuts, which helped to drive Labour’s poll ratings to record lows.
But the Tories accused Sir Keir of appointing a string of ‘tax fanatics’ to advise him as Labour tries to plug a black hole of up to £50 billion in public finances.
Downing Street insisted the PM and Ms Reeves will continue to work ‘in lockstep’.
