Keir Starmer‘s director of communications Steph Driver has become the latest senior aide to quit No10.
Ms Driver, who worked for Sir Keir for years in opposition before joining him in Downing Street, confirmed today that she was leaving, amid a shake up of the PM’s team.
Earlier this month No10 strategic communications director James Lyons dramatically announced he was leaving the role after less than a year, having replaced Matthew Doyle in March.
Tim Allan,a former aide to Tony Blair, was brought in as executive director of communications in his place.
Sir Keir praised Ms Driver for her ‘leading role in transforming the Labour party and delivering our historic general election win’.
‘I will for ever be grateful for her calm, wise counsel, leadership and humour. I wish her all the best in her undoubted onward success,’ he said.
Confirming her departure Ms Driver said: ‘It has been an honour to work with and advise Keir through opposition and into government. Being part of the team to rebuild and rebrand the Labour party before securing an historic general election victory is an achievement and experience like no other.
‘I’m also proud of what this government has already delivered, and thank the sharp and talented No 10 press team for their hard work and support during my tenure.
‘I’m grateful to the prime minister for his continued faith in me and my work, and for his offer of an open door in the future. His Labour government has my unwavering support.’
Ms Driver, who worked for Sir Keir for five years in opposition before joining him in Downing Street, confirmed today that she was leaving, amid a shake up of the PM’s team.
In comments reported by the Guardian Sir Keir praised her for her ‘ leading role in transforming the Labour party and delivering our historic general election win’
Confirming her departure Ms Driver (pictured back right, in July 2024) said: ‘It has been an honour to work with and advise Keir through opposition and into government. Being part of the team to rebuild and rebrand the Labour party before securing an historic general election victory is an achievement and experience like no other.
No10 was also rocked earlier this month that adviser Paul Ovenden quit over sexually explicit messages about Diane Abbott.
He stepped down as Director of Strategy after what No10 said were ‘appalling and unacceptable’ exchanges from 2017 were uncovered.
Turmoil continues to circle No10, with Andy Burnham triggering infighting by claiming mutinous MPs want him to challenge Sir Keir for the party leadership.
The elected Manchester mayor was told in no uncertain terms to stay up north and do his job after he used eve-of-conference interviews to lash out at the Prime Minister.
Mr Burnham, who twice failed to be elected leader of the party when he was an MP, accused Sir Keir of leaving Labour riven by ‘alienation and demoralisation’ since entering No10.
He said he had been approached by MPs who wanted him to mount a leadership challenge and outlined his own tax-and-spend manifesto that included £40bn of borrowing to fund nationalising housebuilding.
It prompted a blunt response from ministers who pointed out his term as Manchester mayor runs until 2028.
The Manchester mayor used a newspaper interview ahead of Labour’s annual conference to set out an alternative tax-and-spend manifesto he claimed could ‘turn the country around’
‘In the same way that this Government are (sic) delivering change, I know that Andy is focussed on delivering change in Greater Manchester,’ Rachel Reeves told broadcasters
Housing Secretary Steve Reed branded Mr Burnham a ‘regional politician and suggested he concentrate on the city, a point later echoed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
‘In the same way that this Government are (sic) delivering change, I know that Andy is focussed on delivering change in Greater Manchester,’ she told broadcasters.
Questions were also raised about his claim that the UK has ‘got to get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets,’ with comparisons drawn with Liz Truss’s financially chaotic time in office as a Tory PM.
Economist Paul Johnson said: ‘The bond markets are simply the people and institutions who lend government money. We can avoid being ”in hock” to them by reducing borrowing.
‘We struggle now because our borrowing and debt are extremely high. Mr Burnham wants to increase borrowing.’
Mr Burnham later took to the airwaves himself to insist he ‘loved’ his role in the city and was committed to serving a full term.
The Manchester mayor used a newspaper interview ahead of Labour’s annual conference to set out a massive tax-and-spend manifesto he claimed could ‘turn the country around’.
It would see the top rate of income tax hit 50 per cent and increase council tax on homes in the south of England, with £40billion of borrowing to nationalise housebuilding.
