2 weeks Ago By Richard Vaughan
Politics has long been a family affair, but in recent years there has been a drift towards governing becoming a family business . While it has not been unusual for children to follow in their parents’ footsteps to become MPs and even ministers, there has been a trend, particularly with the latest Labour Government , of spouses being handed positions of power. Since sweeping to power in July, the new Government has made a series of appointments into influential roles that has forged a string of power couples operating in the heart of Whitehall.
Last month, Sir Keir Starmer appointed Claire Reynolds as his new political director in No 10. The former director of Labour Women’s Network, who was instrumental in helping 100 women MPs get elected, was widely seen as being a perfect choice for the role. Reynolds brings with her a wealth of experience having been at the centre of the Labour machine, including previous stints as an adviser to both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown , and is expected to bring much-needed gravitas to the nascent Downing Street operation.
She is also, however, the wife of Business Secretary Jonthan Reynolds. Her appointment followed swiftly on from the news that the Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s fiance Joe Dancey has been given a senior role in Labour HQ, and it is part of a trend of spousal appointments that runs deep in the Labour Party and its government. The Prime Minister’s new Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney is married to Labour MP Imogen Walker, who is the parliamentary private secretary to Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
The newly elected Georgia Gould – daughter of the deceased architect of New Labour Lord Gould – is married to Alex Zatman, the special adviser to Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, while the head of No 10’s policy unit Stuart Ingham’s partner Jess Leigh is a special adviser to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. There is no suggestion that each person was appointed on anything other than the merit of their strengths and that they were the candidate most suited for the role, but questions are being raised as to whether the drift towards appointing family members to senior government positions is conducive to good governance. Indeed, is it sensible – or even possible – to run a government that is interwoven with such tight-knit relationships? Sir Peter Riddell, a former commissioner for public appointments, told i that the shift towards appointing family members to senior roles was a recent trend, and one that had the potential to cause problems further down the line.
“For me, it’s more a behavioural, or cultural question than it is a propriety one,” he said. “There have been instances over the years where ministers may have been married to civil servants, or similar, but there was always care taken to keep them in separate departments. But this growing trend of spousal or family member political appointments is a fairly new cultural phenomenon.
“These are personal appointments- outside the civil service or regulated public appointments- and at the moment those involved no doubt believe the decisions make sense because they are all friends, they are all on the same side and there is no conflict, but we will have to wait and see on that.” Asked whether it was conducive to good governance, Sir Peter replied: “I think, as it stands, this is more of a potential problem rather than an actual problem. But there is certainly the potential for a clash and if someone is not performing it could be embarrassing for those involved.
” While there have yet to be any conflicts between the power couples within the Government, the familial ties have already started to cause ripples in the wider party. Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield resigned the party whip in September, citing accusations of nepotism within Keir’s government, while others have privately raised concerns that the rise in spousal appointments could lead to poor policy making. “Quite dangerously, they seem determined to only appoint those close, who are most likely to agree with them,” one party source told i .
“There is no one there to challenge them, there are no critical friends.” Read Next Starmer suggests Brexit hampered security as he unveils small boats plan The source added: “I don’t see how such a tiny and interconnected pool of people can possibly represent the country’s best decision makers.” A separate source echoed the concerns, warning that the increase in relationships within government risked exacerbating the perception that Downing Street is dominated by cliques.
“There is already a prevalence of ‘the gang’ in No 10 now that Morgan [McSweeney] has become chief of staff,” the insider said. “And you are either in the gang or you are not. If you happen to be in a relationship with someone in the gang then you are part of it just by association.
” But for others the rise of couples in politics is purely a symptom of romance in the workplace. “These are people who spend their whole lives in politics, in Westminster, sharing the same interests, it’s no surprise that they may end up in relationships with one another,” another party source mused. For now, the presence of husbands, wives and partners may ensure loyalty, but when tougher times approach, Keir may regret his government having such strong family ties.
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