Rishi Sunak Is Getting His Treasury Team Back Together To Run No. 10
New UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has dispensed with most of his predecessor Liz Truss’s Downing Street aides and is set to promote people he worked with in his previous cabinet job as Chancellor of the Exchequer, according to officials familiar with his plans.
(Bloomberg) -- New UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has dispensed with most of his predecessor Liz Truss’s Downing Street aides and is set to promote people he worked with in his previous cabinet job as Chancellor of the Exchequer, according to officials familiar with his plans.
The arrival of a phalanx of former Treasury officials in No. 10 is confirmation of a return to the so-called “Treasury orthodoxy” that Truss had railed against before her fiscal plans sparked market panic in September.
Here are the names that Sunak is expected to appoint to senior backroom roles:
Liam Booth-Smith: Sunak’s closest aide and political confidant, Booth-Smith is tipped to be the Downing Street chief of staff, the most senior political adviser role in the government. He worked for Sunak at the Treasury, headed up the ill-fated Downing Street joint economic unit that was the brainchild of Boris Johnson’s former top aide Dominic Cummings, and previously was an aide in the housing department. Known as the John Travolta of Westminster thanks to his habit of wearing leather jackets at work.
Eleanor Shawcross-Wolfson: A long-standing Tory aide who advised former Chancellor George Osborne a decade ago, Shawcross-Wolfson is expected to take on a senior policy role in No. 10. She has previously worked at the department for work and pensions, for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University.
Nerissa Chesterfield: Likely to take on a senior communications role. Chesterfield has been Sunak’s press aide for years, guiding him through two leadership campaigns and his time as chancellor. Formerly of the Institute for Economic Affairs think tank, she is expected to take charge of No. 10’s media operation.
John Bew: A foreign policy adviser to both Johnson and Truss, he is expected to retain his role under Sunak. One of the key architects of Britain’s strong response to Russia’s war in Ukraine. He is also a professor of history at King’s College London.
Rupert Yorke: A former Tory aide under the David Cameron government, Yorke is likely to head up the No. 10 political operation, liaising with Conservative MPs. This will be a key role as Sunak faces a challenge to unite the warring factions of his party.
Douglas McNeil: Another Osborne protege, McNeil is one of the most experienced Tory economics advisers. He will cement the Treasury takeover of No. 10.
James Nation: Another Sunak special adviser from his time as chancellor. He is likely to take a senior role in the No. 10 policy unit.
Cass Horowitz: Sunak’s digital whizzkid, he’s the man responsible for the snazzy Twitter graphics that had people gossiping about Sunak’s leadership ambitions when he was chancellor. Fun fact: he’s the son of children’s author Anthony.
Lucy Noakes: Another press aide, Noakes worked for Sunak’s close ally Oliver Dowden at Conservative Party HQ. She is now likely to take a central role in the Downing Street media operation.
Beatrice Timpson: Downing Street confirmed she will be Sunak’s deputy press secretary. Experienced media handler who has served several prime ministers.
Leonora Campbell: Likely to be part of Sunak’s political team working on research and briefing.
Sophia Falkner: Formerly of the Policy Exchange think tank, she is expected to take on a policy role.
Sheridan Westlake: The closest thing to a permanent Tory special adviser, Westlake has served every prime minister since David Cameron.
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