Keir Starmer appoints Claire Reynolds as his new political director

The director of the Labour Women's Network has been credited with helping 100 female candidates win seats at the general election and will now take on a senior role in Downing Street.

Claire Reynolds, the director of the Labour Women’s Network, will be joining Downing Street to help Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer navigate difficult decisions and maintain relationships with Labour MPs.

Reynolds, who is married to Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, was credited with helping 100 female candidates win seats at the general election. She will now take on a senior role in Downing Street, working closely with Starmer’s team.

Reynolds, who will be paid by the Labour Party, previously worked in Number 10’s political office under prime ministers Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Her appointment is part of a wider overhaul of Starmer’s Downing Street operation, which saw his chief of staff Sue Gray replaced by former campaign manager Morgan McSweeney.

Reynolds will take over from one of McSweeney’s two new deputies, Vidhya Alakeson, who until the reshuffle had been political director.

A Labour source said: “We couldn’t have someone better qualified than Claire to be leading relationships between No 10, the Labour Party and our politicians.

“Claire’s been a candidate, councillor, adviser and organiser, building a fantastic network across the party, and she has supported hundreds, particularly women, to achieve their full potential in the party.”