‘Continuity Keir’: Burnham keeping on many of Starmer’s No 10 advisers

Andy Burnham is understood to want continuity in the No 10 operation and has now filled most senior No 10 jobs. Photograph: Reuters View image in fullscreen Andy Burnham is understood to want continuity in the No 10 operation and has now filled most senior No 10 jobs. Photograph: Reuters ‘Continuity Keir’: Burnham keeping on many of Starmer’s No 10 advisers Lack of change in key roles could mean next week’s policy announcements may lack radicalism many hoped for Andy Burnham’s Downing Street operation is beginning to take shape, with many of Keir Starmer’s aides due to remain at the centre of government. The incoming prime minister has now picked most of the senior No 10 jobs, according to those who have been involved in the process, and the names of several key staff were confirmed on Thursday. The new team will oversee policy announcements next week, sources said, including new details of his policies on energy, water and the cost of living. Burnham’s ‘black box’ plans for cabinet send Westminster into hysteria Read more Many of those who advised Starmer have been asked to stay on, including Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser, Varun Chandra, the No 10 business adviser, and Graeme Cooke, who is being promoted to run the policy unit. Several others have been brought in from the private sector. They include James Purnell, the former chief executive of the business advisory group Flint Global, who will be chief of staff, and Hayden Munro, who is being recruited from another lobbying group Arden Strategies, to be political director. Most have some kind of link to established Labour politics. The press team will be led by the former Sadiq Khan aide Sarah Brown, while Grace Pritchard, the former special adviser to Ed Miliband, will be the prime minister’s spokesperson. The Guardian has learned that John Stevens, a former journalist, will remain in No 10 as press secretary. Others, however, are coming from outside, including Matthew McGregor, who is joining from the campaign group 38 Degrees, as director of political strategy. The Guardian has also been told that Alison Phillips, the former editor of the Mirror and chief executive of the thinktank ThinkLabour, will be made transition director, with a view to avoiding some of the early mistakes that befell Starmer. A spokesperson said: “Her priority will be to establish No 10 as an effective team that can deliver Andy’s ambition to give Britain breathing space in the cost of living, deliver growth in every postcode and return power to communities. She has led large and complex organisations, delivering results and overseeing cultural change.” Labour insiders said Burnham is keen to provide stability to the No 10 operation after the turbulence of his Makerfield campaign and Starmer’s decision to leave office. Business groups, which have complained about not having anyone to talk to inside the incoming prime minister’s team, were delighted that Chandra was to remain in place. However, some wor