Darren Jones has been promoted as part of Sir Keir Starmer’s ‘reset’ of his top team – but No10 colleagues might be wary of the ex-Treasury minister entering a TV studio.
The 38-year-old has been handed the newly-created role of Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister as part of a slew of changes to Sir Keir’s Downing Street operation.
Mr Jones, the MP for Bristol North West, was previously Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ deputy in the role of Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
After overseeing Labour’s spending review, he has now been tasked with driving progress in key policy areas and will work across Government and report directly to Sir Keir.
But it comes after Mr Jones twice recently sparked rows – over the small boats crisis and Labour’s welfare cuts – with his comments on flagship BBC politics shows.
In June, Mr Jones prompted anger when he said the majority of people crossing the Channel in small boats that he had seen were ‘children, babies and women’.
During a clash with Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf on BBC Question Time over the migrant crisis, Mr Jones said: ‘Let me tell you, when you’re there on the site, seeing these dinghies put together by these organised criminal gangs, which are clearly not safe.
‘And when you see that the majority of the people in these boats are children, babies and women… you have got to take note.’
As he interrupted Mr Jones, Mr Yusuf claimed more than 90 per cent of those who cross the Channel in small boats are adult men.
Asked if he disputed the 90 per cent figure, Mr Jones said: ‘I’m just saying it’s not true.’
‘When there are babies and children put into that position by human trafficking gangs who are coming across the Channel with skin burns from the oil in those boats, mixing with the salt sea water, I would ask any of you to look at those babies and children and say go back where you came from,’ he added.
According to Home Office figures, in the first three months of 2025 there were 6,420 small boat arrivals where the age and sex of the person was recorded. Of these, 81 per cent (5,183) were adult men.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called on Mr Jones to apologise, while Reform UK’s Nigel Farage branded him ‘another clueless Labour minister’.
Mr Jones later sought to clarify his remarks, posting on social media: ‘Of course the overall majority of people arriving illegally on small boats are men – but not ‘north of 90 per cent’ as Reform claimed.
‘On Question Time, I shared a story from my visit to the Border Security Command about a dinghy that arrived mostly carrying women, children and babies who had suffered horrific burns.
‘I’m happy to clarify this given how this is now being misrepresented.’
Mr Jones had previously been at the centre of a row when he compared Labour’s welfare squeeze to cutting his children’s pocket money by £10 per week.
As he attempted to defend the Government’s benefits cuts, Mr Jones pointed to how an impact assessment of the measures did not consider other action being taken by ministers.
‘My understanding is what the impact assessment doesn’t account for is the benefit that you get from our additional money into support for training, skills or work,’ he told BBC Politics Live.
‘Take, for example, if I said to my kids: ‘I’m going to cut your pocket money by £10 per week, but you have to go and get a Saturday job’.
‘The impact assessment on that basis would say that my kids were down £10, irrespective of how much money they get from their Saturday job.’
Mr Jones’ comments were swiftly branded ‘offensive’ and ‘patronising’ by critics.
He later apologised, telling ITV’s Peston programme: ‘I’m sorry about it. It was tactless and it wasn’t well considered. I apologise if I’ve offended people.’
Mr Jones was first elected as MP for Bristol North West in 2017, having previously worked as a solicitor.
In 2016, he was chair of the Young Lawyers’ Network who campaigned for Remain ahead of the EU referendum.
He also worked on Hillary Clinton’s unsuccessful US presidential bid.