Sir Keir Starmer launched a shake-up of his Downing Street operation, appointing a Treasury tax expert to a critical role ahead of a crucial Budget this autumn.

Dan York-Smith, a Treasury civil servant, will replace Nin Pandit, the prime minister’s principal private secretary who is to leave her post in September after only 10 months.

Starmer is also soon expected to appoint a new economic adviser in Number 10, after a months-long search for a suitable candidate.

It comes after pensions minister Torsten Bell was given additional responsibility for economic policy by Rachel Reeves earlier this week.

Starmer is resetting his team ahead of a tricky autumn. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is widely expected to have to increase taxes to meet Government spending pledges and her fiscal rules

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