Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer appointed former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown as a special envoy on global finance and former deputy leader Harriet Harman as an adviser on violence against women and girls, according to a May 9 announcement. The appointments come after the Labour Party suffered significant losses in recent elections, leading to increased pressure on Starmer’s leadership.
The new roles for Brown and Harman are intended to help reset the government’s direction following criticism from within the party. Some Labour Members of Parliament have called for Starmer to set out a timetable for his departure, but he has insisted that he will not “walk away and plunge the country into chaos,” with members of his cabinet voicing support.
Admitting mistakes during his time in office, Starmer said “the hope wasn’t there enough in the first two years of this government” and indicated plans to outline his path forward soon. He is expected to deliver a major speech next week and introduce new legislation as part of efforts to refresh his premiership.
Downing Street stated that Brown will advise on how global finance cooperation can help boost national security and resilience. Baroness Harman will advise on strategies for delivering greater opportunities for women in parliamentary and public life, drawing from her experience working with women across Parliament. “The role will see her draw on work with women across Parliament to identify action needed to tackle misogyny and deliver greater opportunity for women in parliamentary and public life,” No 10 said.
Starmer posted a video online showing meetings with Brown, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and Baroness Harman at Downing Street. “Together, we will build a stronger and fairer Britain,” he wrote alongside the video.
However, some Labour ministers, MPs, and officials expressed confusion over bringing back figures from previous eras of party leadership. One unnamed minister said: “It’s a joke. There is no question to which bringing these two back is the answer.” Another MP questioned whether voters wanted more advisers from earlier periods of Labour politics: “I think this shows that Keir doesn’t even understand the problem, never mind the solution.” A former adviser added: “Is his plan to combat the notion that he has no ideas to just double down on that…and bring in other people?”
Discontent remains visible among some MPs who want Starmer’s resignation or clarity about succession plans. Paula Barker said she respected both appointees but would have preferred if they had declined their roles: “I would have had even more respect for them if they had declined…and told the prime minister that it’s time for a change.” Clive Betts also called for Starmer’s departure soon: “People…have made their mind up…the public by and large have stopped listening to Keir.” Debbie Abrahams predicted it was only months before Starmer steps down: “He has said that he would always put the country first…On this trajectory it does not look good.”
Despite internal criticism, deputy leader Lucy Powell voiced support for keeping Starmer as leader: “I want him to continue as leader.” She warned against internal debate over leadership at this time but stressed improvements were necessary or else other parties could gain power.
Labour lost control after decades in places like Barnsley where Reform UK took charge; other parties also made gains while traditional strongholds saw setbacks.
