Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Michael Ellam, a former adviser to Gordon Brown, to steer his reset negotiations with the EU.
Mr Ellam will go away his job on the financial institution HSBC to grow to be the Cupboard Workplace’s second everlasting secretary, European Union and Worldwide Financial Affairs.
He turns into the most recent determine from the New Labour years to return to authorities, following Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair’s former chief of employees who’s now Sir Keir’s nationwide safety adviser, and the previous cupboard minister Lord Mandelson, who will shortly grow to be the UK’s ambassador to Washington.
Since coming to energy in July, the federal government has repeatedly stated it needs to enhance relations with the EU.
Nonetheless, the prime minister has careworn that doesn’t imply a reversal of Brexit.
By accepting the position, Mr Ellam successfully takes over from Sir Olly Robbins, who led Brexit negotiations for Theresa Could and whose return to the civil service as the pinnacle of the International Workplace was introduced final week.
The advert for the job stated that the place would “obtain vital public scrutiny and public consideration”.
Mr Ellam labored as a civil servant for 20 years together with a two 12 months stint as Downing Road’s director of communications, when Gordon Brown was prime minister.
Cupboard Workplace minister Nick Thomas-Symonds stated: “Michael’s expertise on the highest ranges of worldwide finance will probably be an enormous asset as we work to ship financial development on behalf of the British individuals, together with by way of resetting our relationship with the EU.”
Former Chancellor George Osborne, who labored with Mr Ellam on the Treasury, described him as “one of many sharpest, most strategic minds, in the most effective traditions of the neutral civil service”.