Darren Jones speaks exclusively to LabourList in first full-length interview since leaving government

Darren Jones has spoken exclusively to LabourList in his first full-length interview since leaving the government in July.

The former Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister held a key role serving in Keir Starmer’s government following the 2024 General Election.

After taking some time away from media interviews following the change in Prime Minister that saw Jones leave the Cabinet, the former minister sat down with the LabourList team to reflect on his time in government and discuss his future in Parliament.

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When asked about the final weeks of Starmer’s administration,  Jones told LabourList the moment he realised that Starmer’s leadership crisis was unrecoverable: “For me, it was when John Healey resigned as Defence Secretary. I was in one of the COBRA rooms chairing a national security discussion…my private office ran in and gave me a note, and it said ‘DEF SEC RESIGNED.”

Jones also revealed that there were enough MPs who supported him to have made it onto the ballot in the subsequent leadership contest, but said: “it just didn’t feel right.”

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The former minister also said he had considered whether to stand at the next election, but added: “because of what has happened in the last few months, I feel I’m not done yet, so I’m not going anywhere.”

Despite speculation over the summer, Jones also said he would not be forming a new faction within the Labour Party, arguing: “I don’t think that’s the right thing to do.”

“I’ve got a very strong view that there’s no need for a faction or conflict,” he said.

Jones also told LabourList that he would like to return to the Cabinet at some point in the future, but added: “If Andy’s listening, I’d quite like a breather, actually. I’m very happy being a backbencher for a bit, and I wish my successors every success.”

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