British prime minister Boris Johnson has announced two new appointments to Downing Street in an attempt to try and steady the ship after a tumultuous week.
No 10 announced on Saturday evening that Britain's chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay will become Mr Johnson’s chief of staff and will be “in charge of integrating the new office of the prime minister and the cabinet office, driving the government’s agenda more efficiently and ensuring it is better aligned with the cabinet and backbenchers”.
Meanwhile, journalist Guto Harri is joining Mr Johnson’s team as director of communications. He was Mr Johnson’s spokesman and chief of staff during his first term as London mayor.
It is an honour to have been asked by the PM to serve as Chief of Staff for No10 Downing Street alongside my responsibilities in the Cabinet Office.
I am looking forward to working with the PM, Ministers and Parliamentary colleagues on the issues that matter most to our country— Steve Barclay (@SteveBarclay) February 5, 2022
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Mr Johnson said: “This week I promised change, so that we can get on with the job the British public elected us to do.
“We need to continue our recovery from the pandemic, help hundreds of thousands more people into work, and deliver our ambitious agenda to level up the entire country, improving people’s opportunities regardless of where they’re from.
“The changes I’m announcing to my senior team today will improve how No 10 operates, strengthen the role of my cabinet and backbench colleagues, and accelerate our defining mission to level up the country.”
More announcements are expected in the coming days with what No 10 said would be a “particular focus on improving engagement and liaison with MPs”.
It comes after Mr Johnson lost five aides in the space of 24 hours.
