Reform’s Richard Tice and Zia Yusuf are in Westminster to unveil plans to overhaul council-controlled pension funds in order to slash council tax by up to £350. Expect lots on net zero waste…
LIVE: Reform UK unveils plans to overhaul council-controlled pension funds and save billions for taxpayers. https://t.co/Cl1YZpyEVr
— Reform UK (@reformparty_uk) September 1, 2025
Reports that Olaf Henricson-Bell, the civil servant who led the Downing Street Policy Unit, is leaving his role. Do not ask for whom the bell tolls…
As ministers return to Westminster, 30-year gilt yields are up to 5.64% this morning, the highest level since 1998. That’s up on last Tuesday’s high of 5.62%. Piling pressure on Reeves as borrowing costs soar ahead of the budget…
At the same time, the Confederation of British Industry said bosses are expected to invest and hire less across all industries in the next three months with consumer services seeing the fastest decline. They’re blaming expected further tax rises along with Rayner’s Employment Rights Bill…
Meanwhile a Downing Street reshuffle is underway, filling up the Treasury with tax-happy personnel in a pitch to the Left. Things can only get worse…
Dan Tomlinson has been appointed exchequer secretary in this morning’s reshuffle. He is the latest disciple of the Resolution Foundation (RF) to enter government, following Budget Man Bell and Starmer’s new economics guru Minouche Shafik. Tomlinson spent seven years at the Resolution Foundation between 2015 and 2022, eventually becoming ‘senior economist’. He was also a key figure in the RF’s ‘Economy 2030 Inquiry’. A report stuffed to the gills with recommended tax hikes…
Here are just a few. There are plenty more…
That report is now the blueprint for the government’s economic thinking heading into the omnishambles budget this autumn. The direction of travel from recent personnel changes is clear. Resolution Foundation devotees are sitting at the top table…
The Downing Street reshuffle is underway in the thirteenth month of Labour in power. An attempt to fix so far one of the most dysfunctional No10s in recent history, and that’s saying something…
Youngster Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones is leaving the role to become a brand new SpAd/minister as Chief Secretary (Minister of State) to the Prime Minister and No10 Downing Street. This kind of gimmick is usually a sign of desperation…
Exchequer Secretary James Murray takes Darren Jones’ role. Both will attend Cabinet…
Downing Street says:
“The Chief Secretary role is a new appointment which will work collaboratively across UK Government to drive forward progress in key policy areas, reporting directly to the Prime Minister. The Ministerial role, based within No10 Downing Street, will directly oversee work across Government to support the delivery of the Prime Minister’s priorities and the Government’s Plan for Change. “
Usually the only Downing Street minister is the PM himself…
Former Blairite No10 director of communications Tim Allan is entering Downing Street as the new Executive Director of Communications working with Director of Communications Steph Driver. An Allan entry was said to be opposed by James Lyons – who is now gone…
Starmer’s booted PPS Nin Pandit “remains within the No10 team and turns to leading a newly reformed Downing Street Delivery Team.”
No10 Deputy Chief of Staff Vidhya Alakeson “will take on the expanded and additional responsibilities of overall oversight of Policy and Delivery within Downing Street.”
Policy Unit chief Stuart Ingham is going to join Morgan McSweeney’s chief of staff team. Liz Lloyd is departing No10 to be given a worse role. A government source tells Guido she was “‘ineffective, unpleasant and slow” – a Labour sources says “Liz Lloyd being moved is sign of how doomed it is, one of the few genuine right wingers in government.” This reshuffle cementing Starmer’s pitch to the left…
As Guido reported the Downing Street personnel shuffle is ongoing. James Lyons is out…
The director of strategic communications replaced Matthew Doyle earlier this year, whose job was split in two. Lyons said:
“It was an honour to be asked to come in. I’m proud to have helped to get a grip on Whitehall comms after what was a difficult few first months for the Government. It wasn’t just filling the grid. Launching the Plan for Change brought focus and direction. But I gave up a lot to come in and this was never intended as a long haul. When I came back from the summer break I told colleagues I was looking to leave by the end of the year. I’ve brought this forward to be part of the other changes.“
Another comms director gone. More to come…
Red Wall Labour backbencher Jonathan Brash told GB News that Starmer should resign:
“I’m completely fed up about it, and I think it’s got to the point now where I genuinely think that, as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, it’s not a case of if, it’s when.”