SpAd announcements are still drip-dripping onto Guido’s spreadsheet, and today Steve Barclay’s team has emerged rather fully formed. Alas for Barclay, his two longest-serving SpAds prior to him being sacked, Emma Dean and Amy Milner, have been drawn towards comfortable, well-paid billets in the private sector and aren’t returning. Instead Liz Truss’s month-long director of political strategy Iain Carter has taken a job, alongside Lionel Zetter who was brought in to help Barclay back in August.

Clarence Mitchell, founder of Clarence Mitchell Communications, has been brought in as a comms SpAd, and Guido hears Robert Ede of Policy Exchange is also likely to get a job.

The most eyebrow-raising of all is Macer Hall, who recently stepped down as political editor of the Daily Express. Guido hears he’s also been poached as a Barclay communications advisor.

By the look of it, Barclay must have the oldest SpAd team of any Westminster department in years…

Last night Guido revealed The Express has promoted deputy pol-ed Sam Lister up to pol-ed, replacing Macer Hall who announced his departure a week ago in the pursuit of “new opportunities”. Lister, according to previous incumbent Patrick O’Flynn, is the first female to hold the role at the paper after joining the paper almost four years ago. Sam tells Guido:

“‘I’m absolutely thrilled to take on the role of political editor at the Daily Express and head of politics for the brand.

I’ve got big shoes to fill taking over from Macer Hall, who was a fantastic boss and is a true gent.

I’m so lucky to be working with such a talented team at the Daily Express and I’m really excited for the future.

I’m really pleased to have kicked off the first day in the job with an in depth interview with leadership front runner Liz Truss.”

Read Sam’s Truss interview, the by-line of which first tipped Guido off about the promotion, here…