Keir Starmer’s chief communications officer is departing from Downing Street, posing another setback for the Prime Minister. Steph Driver, the head of communications for the PM, who has collaborated closely with Mr. Starmer for nearly five years, is the latest high-ranking aide to exit No10 following a string of departures. Her departure comes shortly after the PM’s director of strategy, Paul Ovenden, stepped down.
Moreover, Mr. Starmer recently dismissed the UK Ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, after revelations surfaced regarding his association with disgraced individual Jeffrey Epstein. James Lyons, who previously shared the communications chief position with Ms. Driver, also departed from No10 earlier this month.
In response to the series of departures, the PM is striving to stabilize his No10 team. At the beginning of the month, Mr. Starmer reorganized his top personnel, creating a new role for esteemed minister Darren Jones. Jones, previously serving as Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s deputy at the Treasury, assumed the role of Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister at Downing Street, while moving his principal private secretary, Nin Pandit, to a new position concentrating on policy implementation.
Tim Allan, a former advisor to Tony Blair in No10, was appointed by Mr. Starmer as the government’s top communications officer, serving as the executive director of government communications. As per reports from The Guardian, Ms. Driver chose to resign after deliberations regarding the new communications team structure, following a period of absence due to a family bereavement.
In acknowledging Driver’s contribution, Mr. Starmer expressed gratitude for her significant role in the transformation of the Labour party and the achievement of their historic general election victory. Driver, on the other hand, expressed pride in her work with Keir Starmer, highlighting the honor of being part of the team that revitalized and rebranded the Labour party and securing the election victory.
Additionally, she commended the government’s accomplishments and thanked the diligent No10 press team for their support during her tenure. Driver also expressed appreciation for the PM’s trust in her work and extended support for his Labour government.