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…
The focus is on Downing Street personnel instead of ministers ahead of a reshuffle penned in for Monday, Guido is told. SpAds are braced for a Morgan McSweeney autumn clean out…
Multiple sources say Political Director Claire Reynolds is up for the chop. Guido hears that other Downing Street political staff are feeling nervy. Insider sources say numerous personnel in the Policy Unit as well as Director of Communications (Delivery) Steph Driver are privately worried about being shuffled on…
Guido hears the feeling among some political staff is that Nin Pandit’s departure – which has bolstered the hated pen-pusher Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald – is not seen as enough. One Downing Street source tells Guido there are “no plans to tackle Wormald” and someone additional will be brought in – but that it “doesn’t seem likely that will be landed by Monday.”
With regard to that tongues are wagging in SW1 about the potential incoming appointment of Helen “Karaoke” MacNamara. Co-conspirators may remember MacNamara – former Propriety and Ethics director and subsequent deputy Cabinet Secretary. She has been personally pushing for the formation of a new Downing Street department with its own permanent secretary. A widely held view is that partygate has tarred her excessively. Guido hears Helen still has fans inside government…
The shuffle is being managed by numerous staff with competing recommendations to Starmer, hence the stop-and-start announcements. This is life with “the grown ups back in charge”…
UPDATE: Ministerial reshuffle delayed.
Downing Street has been spending a hefty amount on furniture prior to its personnel reshuffle. Minouche Shafik – former deputy BoE governor under Mark Carney – will be Starmer’s new personal economics adviser…
Guido’s FoI unit has established that since mid-April No10 has spent £1,919 on chairs, £305 on desks, and £174 on lighting. Maybe ergonomic seats will solve the malaise…
This comes after £28,000 was shelled out after the election on new furniture. Something about deckchairs and the Titanic comes to mind…
Starmer has sacked his PPS Nin Pandit. Briefed to the BBC this morning…
After joining in November 2024 post-Sue Gray she is “expected to be given another role in government” and the BBC is told she “retains his confidence.” There will be some sighs of relief among political appointees in government…
As co-conspirators will have read on these pixels Pandit has been on the receiving end of criticism for being “hopeless,” abrasive, and ineffective in government. Which the BBC has been told by Downing Street now…
The finger was also pointed at Pandit for blocking the launch of Rayner’s ODPM. Starmer’s slow-moving personnel circus marches on…
Kemi Badenoch at the 1922-ConHome bash last night:
“I did praise [Burnham] for his stamina, it was amazing. All I had to do was sit back and lie there. I didn’t have to do anything at all…”