Here we go again. Whoever gets it better not value job security…
Guido looks forward to doing this yet again in a couple of months. Candidates who miss out on the gig this time shouldn’t be too upset…
At the time of going to pixel, Morgan McSweeney still has a job. But yesterday Starmer gave him the ‘full confidence’ kiss of death, and today all fingers point towards Morgan for starting the anti-Streeting briefing war. So Guido is just doing the Prime Minister a favour by getting this out of the way early…
Tim Allan – The ringleader of the anti-Morgan cabal and currently No10’s Executive Director of Communications. Could Allan take Downing Street to infinity and beyond?
Tom Baldwin – Starmer’s Hagiographer. Said to be hungry for a comms job in No10, with the likes of Alastair Campbell thought to be lobbying for him. Known for writing the Observer puff piece which blew up Starmer’s messaging on immigration…
Jill Cuthbertson – Currently Morgan’s loyal deputy. Spent three years working for Starmer as Director of LOTO’s Office. Previously worked for Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband. So if Starmer also falls, she could stay in post for the Miliband administration…
Ben Nunn – Rachel Reeves’ new Chief of Staff. Would be a big promotion but is said to be ambitious…
Darren Jones – Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister. Would save on the wage bill if they folded the role into his current remit…
Alastair Campbell – Podcaster and Twitter addict. Spent today screaming about Robbie Gibb and the BBC, so clearly needs a new hobby. Back to Number 10 to atone for last time?
The News Agents – Why not? It would make little difference to their output. Although it may make Sopel’s return to Bluesky even less likely…
Emilio Casalicchio – Playbook PM author. Produces material for the morning Playbook’s ‘mea culpa’ section…
Others can still throw their hat in the ring, but time is clearly short. Refresh those CVs now – don’t worry too much about Starmer checking them closely…
Tom Clougherty has stepped down as the IEA’s executive director, leaving a vacancy at the top of one of Westminster’s most influential free market think tanks. Whoever fills the spot will need a mix of serious policy nous and plenty of media experience. Someone who knows how to attract eyeballs to the IEA…
Here’s a non-exhaustive list of potential candidates. The IEA hasn’t yet opened its application portal, although the board is currently having informal conversations with potential candidates. Any wonk who fancies a punt still has time to polish their CV. It is, as usual, in no particular order…
Matthew Lesh – The Country Manager for Freshwater Strategy. A familiar face in wonk world, including at the IEA itself, where he rose to become Director of Public Policy and Communications. Still has one foot in the door as an IEA public policy fellow. Could he take that extra step?
David Frost – Understood to have narrowly missed out last time round, and expected to apply once again. Benefits from a high profile in SW1 and the requisite policy know-how…
Callum Price – Currently the IEA’s Director of Communications and a former SpAd across several briefs under the Tories, including the Home Office. Leading the IEA’s comms already is certainly helpful…
John King – The IEA’s Director of External Relations. Knows the place like the back of his hand, having first joined 13 years ago as an intern. Has useful experience in financial services…
Syed Kamall – Professor of Politics and International Relations at St Mary’s University and a shadow minister sitting in the Lords. An ex-MEP, government minister, and crucially the IEA’s former Academic and Research Director. A long resumé – does he fancy adding one more role to the list?
The likes of Steve Baker, Victoria Hewson, Chris Snowdon and Emma Revell have also circulated as potential candidates in Westminster gossip circles. Guido understands all four aren’t considering it. Though things can change…
With Harry Cole heading to DC to take up his new role as Editor-at-Large of The Sun, there are some boots to fill. As always Guido gives you the runners and riders – Sun internal characters highlighted in red…
It’s an interesting job for as long as it lasts…
Candidates are coming out of the woodwork in the running for Oxford University’s Chancellorship. Peter Mandelson has been confirmed today to be gunning for the role, after shadow campaigning for some time. Someone’s preparing for alternatives to those ambassadorial dreams…
Chris Patten has served in the prized role since 2003. Were Mandelson to win he would be the first card-carrying Labour member in the role. He’s up against Tory big hitter William Hague, who announced last week. This time the Chancellor’s Election Committee has said it will remove candidates from the election process whom it does not consider “suitable” and it will give “due regard to the principles of equality and diversity“. Oxford undergrads will no doubt look past Willy’s un-diverse characteristics in hope of an official Hagueathon were he to win…
Rory Stewart and Theresa May have ruled themselves out. Guido provides the definitive runners and riders below:
Oxford won’t release a full list of candidates until early October. 250,000 alumni worldwide are entitled to vote online on the 28th in the first internet-based election. It’s a wide field…
The Mirror’s Political Editor job is prized for aspirational, resourceful and, most importantly, pro-Labour hacks. As revealed by Guido, John Stevens’ two-year stint has come to and end with his transfer into government – which leaves the title in need of a new scoop-getter. Runners and riders currently within the Mirror family are highlighted in red…
While plans are being formed the current expectation among sources is that Lizzie will act as pol ed through conference season while a proper appointment process is set up and carried out. An internal hire is widely expected given the Mirror’s notoriously low pay…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”