As the prime minister recovers from Labour's heavy losses in Thursday's elections and prepares the nation for the economic turmoil triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, he cannot afford to let his government be paralysed by leadership disputes. To that end, he has brought two respected figures from the party's recent past into Downing Street.
Brown and Harman Drafted In
Gordon Brown has been appointed as the prime minister's "special envoy on global finance and cooperation," a title that may sound trivial but carries the weight of his experience as a former prime minister and long-serving chancellor. At a time when the global economy is fragile and higher oil prices loom, Brown's intellectual heft and confidence are reassuring. Harriet Harman, meanwhile, returns from her second career as a podcaster to lend credibility to the government's efforts to protect women and girls from violence, drawing on her lifelong commitment to gender equality.
Criticism and Strategy
Some may view these appointments as a sign of weakness, suggesting that Sir Keir Starmer is relying on figures from outside the Commons rather than promoting new talent. The current cabinet is not the strongest possible, but Starmer fears that a reshuffle could destabilise his position. Keeping Rachel Reeves at the Treasury, reinforced by the "great clunking fist" of her predecessor, is a safer bet than risking market confidence by moving her. Reeves co-authored many of the government's mistakes, but internal pressure to replace her comes from those who favour less fiscal responsibility.
Starmer has wisely resisted Ed Miliband's ambition for the chancellor's role, instead turning to Brown to restore business confidence. Many business leaders have lost faith in Reeves, and this is her chance to rebuild. Starmer has previously turned to old Labour hands with mixed results: Jonathan Powell excelled as national security adviser (except on the Chagos deal), while Peter Mandelson's return in 2008 was less successful.
A Sensible Move
The appointments of Brown and Harman are sensible attempts to pre-empt leadership speculation following poor midterm elections. Starmer has rejected a lurch to the left, insisting he will not "tack right or left." However, he must communicate a renewed sense of purpose beyond the vacuous declarations in his recent Guardian article. With one last chance to protect people from global instability, Starmer is wise to have Brown by his side.
