The Number 10 spokesman has confirmed Starmer’s ‘nothing-to-see-here’ speech to Downing Street staff actually preceded the announcement of Tim Allan’s resignation by around an hour. Hence why there was no reference to Allan in the address…
Number 10 resisted the claim that Allan threw in the towel immediately upon hearing Starmer’s rousing speech, which if true would mean Starmer knew his Director of Communications was about to resign while delivering a speech designed to convince staff his leadership wasn’t imploding. And when asked if the PM planned to resign today, the spokesman said “no”…
Speaking about Morgan McSweeney’s resignation, skills minister Jacqui Smith told Times Radio:
“It’s clearly not ideal but I do understand why Morgan, as he explained, decided to resign at this point. But the important thing as you say is how we both tackle what this Epstein and Mandelson scandal has identified and also how we make sure, as the prime minister is absolutely determined to, that we continue the change that the country needs and that’s what I’m focusing on this morning.”