Rachel Reeves has been dealt another blow after one of her advisors departed just six months after coming to power.
The Express understands that the Chancellor’s head of business engagement, Oliver Newton, has left his role in record time following the election win.
A government source refused to comment on individual members of staff, but notably failed to deny the claim.
However the mocked the Chancellor over Mr Newton’s departure, with shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith telling the Express: “If true it cannot be much of a surprise. After the choices made in her Budget, doing business engagement for Rachel Reeves must be as satisfying as selling snow to Inuit.”
Referencing Ms Reeves’ own career-editing troubles, he quipped: “Let’s hope that they’ve used the last few months to ensure their CV is accurate!”
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The Treasury didn’t deny the departure (Image: Kirsty O’Connor / Treasury)
In October The Times reported that Mr Newton had received free tickets to football matches and concerts from large companies hoping to influence government policy.
The revelation is a second advisor-related blow received today, after it was confirmed Sir Keir Starer has appointed a former Treasury official as a key aide amid questions about the Chancellor’s future in the role.
Olaf Henricson-Bell, the brother of Labour MP Torsten Bell, was announced as Sir ’s new head of the policy unit in No. 10.
The move suggests the Prime Minister wants an experienced Treasury hand at the heart of his Downing Street in light of the turmoil under Ms Reeves.
Ms Reeves’ position came under further scrutiny today after Sir Keir initially refused to guarantee she would still be in the role come the next election.
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Rachel Reeves is said to be ‘depressed’ after just six months in the job (Image: Getty)
The PM twice refused to make the commitment this morning, with a spokesman later being forced to insist that the Chancellor will be kept in post.
It’s also been reported that Ms Reeves is feeling “very depressed” and “can’t see a way out” amid the UK’s economic turmoil.
The pound continued to fall today as confidence in Britain’s economy continued to ebb away under Ms Reeves’ stewardship.
Today the pound slid to a 14-month low, while UK borrowing costs increased to their highest level since 1998.