Andy Burnham Recruits New Advisers for No 10 Policy Unit

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is recruiting several new advisers to fill vacancies in the No 10 policy unit following the departure of Keir Starmer. A central priority of the recruitment is an AI expert who will lead preparations for the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce, specifically for new graduates, and advise on public service transformation and frontier AI.

This focus on artificial intelligence follows warnings from cabinet ministers and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband regarding the "daunting" dangers of unregulated AI systems. Miliband stated that technological advances could not be allowed "to come at the expense of our children or indeed humanity."

Beyond technology, Burnham is seeking an adviser to develop policies for increased public control over housing, energy, and transport to combat the cost of living. He is also recruiting an economic adviser to replace Minouche Shafik to focus on macroeconomic policy and growth. Additional vacancies include roles for Scotland, work and welfare, and a cross-departmental position covering security, justice, and immigration.