The markets have issued their verdict:
Do investors not have faith in Minouche Shafik?
One thing hacks have missed in their estimation of the new Downing Street communications director’s political acumen is his decision to fund Change UK – The Independent Group. Remember them?
Allan, who founded and ran the lobbying firm Portland Communications, funded the Brexit heroes led by Chuka Umunna and Anna Soubry in 2019 to the tune of a whopping £20,000. His only previous notable donation was a £10,000 bung to Liz Kendall in her campaign for the 2015 Labour leadership…
That donation made Allan the third largest donor to CHUKTIG at the time. Revealing the extent of his political nous Allan said: “This is a personal donation, that has nothing whatsoever to do with Portland… I wanted to play some role, in a personal capacity, in helping those who want to shake up British politics, because it certainly needs it.” The TIGgers were crucial in forcing Labour into a second referendum position and scuppering the initial indicative votes, thus pushing Brexit into the sightlines…
Guido is not sure that is what Allan had in mind. There is disquiet in government over the reheated Blairite hire. The new communications director – Starmer’s fourth in five years – joked to his new colleagues yesterday that “government communications had changed a little since he last worked in No 10 some 27 years ago.” You bet…
There are worries that Starmer’s 23rd reset does not go far enough. At least Tony Blair is happy…
The initial “too abrasive” assessment of outgoing strategic communications director James Lyons has been borne out and his replacement Tim Allan – the appointment of whom Lyons was opposed – is viewed dimly by some government sources. Allan is a personal confidant of Blair and Alistair Campbell and is viewed by some as ”yet another Blairite” who had it easy as deputy Downing Street communications director in the early New Labour years. Another source in No10 tells Guido all hopes are on the “1990s retread” now. Labour insiders naturally point to the lack of the internet, loads of cash from the Major ministry, and strong sustained GDP growth…
Personnel changes to fix malaise in the private office and more effectively assign responsibility on policy and delivery have gone down well in general. The lack of movement in the Cabinet Office has not…
As Guido reported earlier in the summer the “engine of government” is seen as dysfunctional and there have been no changes to its top roster during this “reset.” Hated Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald is still in place as well as permanent and second permanent secretaries Cat Little and Clara Swinson. One Downing Street source said newly promoted Darren Jones “could be very useful” if he was paired with an effective Cabinet Secretary or Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary. Olly Robbins and Antonia Romeo are names that come up as potential replacements…
There are many other operators thought of as ineffective including the Labour Party communications director Joe Dancey – boyfriend of Streeting – who had his beefy role downgraded in May. Doesn’t look like he got the hint…
A junior ministerial reshuffle is still on the way and is expected by some government insiders to kick off next week. Safe to say Starmer has run out of people to blame at only 13 months in…
UPDATE: Joe Dancey departing from his communications role. Someone’s listening…
Starmer is pitching this latest Downing Street reset as a “bolstering” of his operation: “The return of parliament marks a new term and a ramping up of the next phase of this government’s domestic agenda– relentless delivery on our Plan for Change.” Guido’s Starmer reset counter just pinged…
Tim Allan is Starmer’s fourth communications director in five years. Hint: it’s not the communications…
Reports that Olaf Henricson-Bell, the civil servant who led the Downing Street Policy Unit, is leaving his role. Do not ask for whom the bell tolls…
As Guido reported the Downing Street personnel shuffle is ongoing. James Lyons is out…
The director of strategic communications replaced Matthew Doyle earlier this year, whose job was split in two. Lyons said:
“It was an honour to be asked to come in. I’m proud to have helped to get a grip on Whitehall comms after what was a difficult few first months for the Government. It wasn’t just filling the grid. Launching the Plan for Change brought focus and direction. But I gave up a lot to come in and this was never intended as a long haul. When I came back from the summer break I told colleagues I was looking to leave by the end of the year. I’ve brought this forward to be part of the other changes.“
Another comms director gone. More to come…
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.”