A key figure in Keir Starmer’s September reshuffle, Darren Jones is seen by many as a rising star of the Labour Party. But who is he, and why has Starmer created a whole new role for him?
The September reshuffle has seen Jones installed as Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, a newly created role that will “directly oversee work across Government to support the delivery of the Prime Minister’s priorities.”
Formerly the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the new role will see Jones installed at the heart of No. 10, with the move part of Keir Starmer’s efforts to bolster the Downing Street team.
Alongside Darren Jones, Starmer has appointed former deputy governor of the Bank of England Minouche Shafik as his chief economic adviser, and brought in former Blair adviser Tim Allan as executive director of communications.
Two other junior ministers, Daniel Tomlinson and James Murray, have also taken up new positions in the Treasury.
A Bristol native
Darren Jones grew up in a working-class family in a council flat in the constituency he now represents in Bristol, a childhood which he has described as “difficult” but “enjoyable.”
Speaking to Nick Robinson on the BBC Political Thinking podcast, Jones said “there would be times when my parents would choose not to eat in order to feed me.”
He went on to study human bioscience at the University of Plymouth, where he also served as President of the Student’s Union, before working for the NHS.
Jones later studied law at the University of the West of England and the University of Law and worked as a solicitor, focusing on technology and consumer rights law.
Labour’s rising star
Darren Jones first stood for election as a Labour candidate in the 2010 election, coming fourth in the seat of Torridge and West Devon.
He stood unsuccessfully a second time in 2015, coming second in Bristol North West.
Jones went on to win the Bristol North West seat in 2017 with a majority of 4,944, and has held the seat ever since, with increased majorities in 2019 and 2024.
It was Keir Starmer’s election as Labour leader in April 2020 that kickstarted Jones’ political ascent, as Starmer appointed Jones as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy and Shadow Attorney General Charlie Falconer. Jones is broadly seen as being to the Blairite-style right of the party.
Soon after, in May 2020, Darren Jones was elected chair of the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Commitee, a role in which he garnered significant praise and attention.
Darren Jones proved to be highly effective in his role as committee chair, being awarded ‘Inquisitor of the Year’ in 2023 by The Spectator magazine and ‘Select Committee Chair of the Year’ as part of the Pagefield Parliamentarian Awards.
His rising political profile was rewarded by Starmer in 2023 with a shadow cabinet role, as shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the political deputy to then shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves. When Labour took office last July, Jones transferred his opposition role in government, becoming Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Why is Darren Jones significant in this latest reshuffle?
Starmer has dubbed this reshuffle as the start of “phase two” of his government, which will focus on “delivery, delivery, delivery.” Amidst growing public frustration, Starmer hopes that these latest changes will kick the government into action.
This latest reshuffle has come as yet another shake up of the No. 10 team by Starmer, as he attempts to push the government to achieve the change that it promised to voters in July 2024.
The appointment of Reeves’ former deputy to Downing Street has been seen as an attempt by Starmer to shore up his economic team ahead of the Autumn Budget, and in face of the slow economic growth the country faces.
It has also been seen more cynically by some as a sidelining of Reeves, as Starmer seeks more direct control over economic policy after Reeves suffered a turbulent time in the Treasury.
It will be interesting to see what Jones does with his new role – there has never been a Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister before, so he’s is stepping into somewhat unchartered territory.
We’ll have to wait and find out if Darren Jones will be able to help Starmer turn his government’s fortunes and optics around.
Read our profile of James Murray here.
Read our profile of Daniel Tomlinson here.
Featured image via HM Government
