Starmer appoints Blair and Brown aide as new No 10 political director

October 28, 2024
Sir Keir Starmer

A former Gordon Brown and Sir Tony Blair assistant has been named Sir Keir Starmer's new political director.

The Guardian originally reported that Claire Reynolds will be responsible for communicating with members of the Parliamentary Labour Party when the Prime Minister makes a number of controversial decisions that he claims are necessary to improve public services.

The director of the Labour Women’s Network has been credited with helping 100 female candidates win seats at the general election and will now take on a senior role in Downing Street.

We couldn’t have someone better qualified than Claire to be leading relationships between No 10, the Labour Party and our politicians

Labour source

Ms Reynolds is married to Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and previously worked in Number 10’s political office under prime ministers Sir Tony and Mr Brown. She will be paid by the Labour Party.

The appointment is part of a wider overhaul of Sir Keir’s Downing Street operation after the replacement of his chief of staff Sue Gray with former campaign manager Morgan McSweeney.

Ms Reynolds will take over from one of Mr McSweeney’s two new deputies, Vidhya Alakeson, who until the reshuffle had been political director.

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.”