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4 months ago
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Keir Starmer is looking to bring former Blairites back into the fold as he seeks to shore up relations with the US and drive forward reform of the NHS, sources say.
Alan Milburn, a former MP and Health Secretary under Tony Blair, is set to help reform the National Health Service in an as-yet undetermined role, according to The Telegraph.
The move is seen to indicate that the private sector will still be a core component of their vision for the service, with Mr Milburn allegedly advising new Health Secretary Wes Streeting to ensure they can 'hit the ground running', according to the newspaper.
David Miliband is also pegged for a return to politics, with party insiders telling The Sun that Sir Keir has the new Energy Secretary's brother in consideration for the next ambassador to the United States - once the US elections conclude.
David Miliband served as Foreign Secretary under Gordon Brown between 2007 and 2010, and spent a year as Minister of State for Communities and Local Government when the role was created under Blair.
The Prime Minister has already taken strides in government with calls to foreign leaders and the appointment of a decorated cabinet of veteran politicians and field experts.
In a glimpse into life inside Downing Street, Number 10 on Saturday shared photos of the Labour leader climbing the stairs of his new home in front of portraits of the former Prime Ministers.
Mr Starmer was snapped between Major, Blair, Brown and Cameron - but the photograph cut off the last five years of leaders since May.
Starmer walks up the staircase of 10 Downing St surrounded by photos of his predecessors
Sir Keir has had a busy first two days, contacting world leaders and appointing a cabinet
While the new Prime Minister campaigned on 'change', his recent appointments have harked back to the past, drawing from a pool of talented Blair-era politicians.
Two former cabinet ministers who served under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have been given junior minister positions, Downing Street announced on Saturday evening.
Douglas Alexander has been appointed as a business minister and Jacqui Smith an education minister.
Mr Alexander was the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South in 1997, when Blair won his landslide victory.
He left politics after losing the seat in 2015, but staged a stunning comeback with his election as MP for Lothian East.
Mr Alexander held several cabinet roles in the last Labour government, including International Development Secretary and Transport Secretary.
Under Ed Miliband's Shadow Cabinet he served as Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions and Shadow Foreign Secretary.
Jacqui Smith was the MP for Redditch between 1997 and 2010, serving as Home Secretary under Gordon Brown between 2007 and 2009 - making her the first woman to hold the position.
Trade magazine FE Week understands Mrs Smith will 'take the skills, further and higher education brief', although this has not yet be confirmed.
This would position her to oversee Labour's reforms to skills from college to university age.
Pat McFadden, made the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on Friday, was also previously a Blair minister.
Sir Keir told The Independent that he regularly receives texts from Tony Blair with advice as he takes his first steps in governing the country.
He said the advice was 'very helpful' and focused on transitioning from a party in opposition to governance.
Wes Streeting likewise said Labour 'often' called on Tony Blair as they prepared to battle the Tories in the general election.
The Independent claimed Lord Mandelson had given Sir Keir some advice in the run up to the election.
David Miliband is on the cards for a comeback to politics, insiders told The Sun
Alan Milburn (R), a former Health Secretary, is also expected to help drive NHS reform
Keir Starmer holds his first press conference at 10 Downing Street on Saturday
Keir Starmer previously brushed off attempts to pigeon-hole him as either a Blairite or a Corbynite in a 2020 interview with Sky.
'I'm often challenged, are you a Blairite, a Corbynista?' he said on the Sky News Ridge on Sunday programme.
'I don't need someone else's name tattooed on my head to make a decision or hug a historical figure.'
Sir Keir also avoided describing himself as being definitively on the left or right of the party.
'I can think for myself, I don't need to hug Jeremy Corbyn, I don't need to hug Tony Blair or anybody else to make a decision,' he said at the time.
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