Keir Starmer has suffered another major personnel blow today as his top spin doctor dramatically quit less than one year into the job. James Lyons’ departure was announced this morning, coming just days after the Prime Minister dismissed one of his most senior civil servants.
The news is yet another sign of cracks at the top of government, with Labour under mounting pressure in the polls. Mr Lyons stepped up to the role last October following the resignation of Matthew Doyle, who only survived nine months in the job. Downing Street sources have insisted Mr Lyons’ top job was “never intended as a long haul”, and he decided to leave during his summer holiday.
While he’d initially earmarked the end of the year as his resignation date, this was brought forward by No. 10 as part of a wider staffing reshuffle.
He is to be replaced by Tim Allan, a former Tony Blair advisor who has most recently been a top man at the PR firm Portland.
Recently David Dinsmore, a former executive at the Sun newspaper, was also brought in to take control of civil service communications.
Mr Lyons’ deputy, Steph Driver, will be staying in post.
The blow comes just days after the Prime Minister sacked his top civil servant, Nin Pandit, just ten months after she got the job.
She was the third senior staff member to be let go, following the departure of Mr Doyle and Sue Gray.
The BBC reported that the PM had been concerned about Ms Pandit’s effectiveness in the job.
She was moved onto a new role leading on policy delivery at No. 10.
Commenting on the move on social media, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: “Keir Starmer keeps sacking advisers, losing ministers, and briefing against his own team in the papers.
“Another reset won’t hide the truth: he has no plan, no direction, and needs his Red Folder [ministerial folder] to remind him what he stands for.”
Sir Keir has conducted a wider reshuffle of his top staff today, in another effort to reset the government.
Liz Lloyd, Tony Blair’s former chief of staff, is leaving the No. 10 policy unit, and Stuart Ingham will also be moved from the unit to work for Sir Keir’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.
