Guido has been closely following the activity of Starmer’s new communications director Tim Allan since he entered Downing Street. The only problem is – there hasn’t been much…
Apart from giving a bizarre and poorly-received session at ‘SpAd School’ last month in which he said “I haven’t arrived with a plan” Allan has kept his interactions to a minimum. Maybe he’s embarrassed after that episode…
Guido has checked in across government departments and found that Allan has kept mostly out of touch. He’s been in the job for a month and a half…
Gossip from Downing Street sources confirms he is taking a more overarching approach to communications and crisis management. His meetings schedule is said to be moving at a less-than-sluggish pace. Guido revealed two weeks ago that the intention was not to replace day-to-day communications director Steph Driver, which makes Allan’s friendly ghost routine more bizarre. How many shake-ups does it take to fix a government?
Big changes are taking place in the Downing Street Policy Unit right now. Which phase is that now…
Recent additions include Leo Rees on the DSIT brief, a data wonk who for three years worked under the auspices of Will Tanner at Tory-affiliated think tank Onward, only departing in 2022. Labourites can make up their own minds as to how that is going to go…
Staff who made up the LOTO policy unit responsible for writing the Labour manifesto – most of whom remaining are now women – are on the way out. Replacements are ongoing currently…
The policy unit greases the wheels between No10 and ministers. Received wisdom is that you need SpAds in there who understand the political dynamics, have clout, and can operate decisively…
Government sources say there is no intention currently to replace Steph Driver, who departed as Starmer’s director of day-to-day communications last month. Instead the communications team will be bolstered by a new more junior media SpAd who will work the majority of the time under Press Secretary Sophie Nazemi.
The shake-up comes in a period of low morale in Downing Street and wider government. Exits continue, of the voluntary and involuntary varieties…
UPDATE: Some changes now being briefed out:
Steph Driver will need to be replaced. The gruelling job of running Downing Street’s day-to-day communications operation is not one to be envied…
Starmer has form on appointing externals too. Good luck to anyone joining the sinking ship…
Gone from the top of Starmer’s operation in Phase 2:
This is all since Starmer declared on 1 September that the new Downing Street was “confident and full of conviction about what we’re doing.” The curse of Keir…
Guido is told other staff are considering their position now. Meanwhile Morgan McSweeney continues to dominate headlines for another week in a scandal over his record at Labour Together. Something something sinking ship…
Starmer’s director of communications Steph Driver is leaving Downing Street. Yet another massive resignation from the top…
Driver worked for Starmer for five years and has decided to walk after a series of ructions has thinned the Starmerite/Morganite cadre at the top of Downing Street. Well-regarded by insiders as one of the most hard-working individuals around Starmer and relied upon by the PM at key moments…
Guido hears numerous Downing Street political staff were not content with Blairite veteran Tim Allan’s placement above Driver in the food chain as executive director of communications. Her departure is a severe blow to the Starmer operation. Guido hears other staff are now considering their positions…
The markets have issued their verdict:
Do investors not have faith in Minouche Shafik?
Former leader of the SNP in Westminster Ian Blackford told Times Radio why he believes Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that she spent no time in the kitchen and therefore didn’t see any of her husband’s purchases:
“She doesn’t have a passion for cooking.”