Sir Keir Starmer will not stand down and remains “upbeat and confident” despite his second top aide quitting in less than 24 hours.
The prime minister’s director of communications, Tim Allan, a former adviser to Sir Tony Blair, announced on Monday morning he was resigning just five months after being brought in to steady the Downing Street ship.
Sir Keir’s fourth head of communications since Labour won the election in July 2024 quit less than 24 hours after the PM’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney resigned over his role in appointing Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the US.
Further links between Lord Mandelson and the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein were revealed last week, with fingers quickly being pointed at Mr McSweeney for encouraging his appointment.
But Mr Allan only became head of communications a week before Lord Mandelson was sacked last September, so was not involved in his appointment.
Politics latest: Allan puts ‘out of office – gone golfing’ message on WhatsApp
Several Labour MPs have publicly called for Sir Keir to step down over the whole episode, with the PM set to address his MPs later today.
However, Downing Street remained defiant on Monday lunchtime, with the prime minister’s spokesman saying Sir Keir will not resign today and his mood is “upbeat and confident”.
Announcing his resignation, Mr Allan said: “I have decided to stand down to allow a new No 10 team to be built.
“I wish the PM and his team every success.”
The Conservatives jumped on the second resignation of a key Starmer aide in less than 24 hours.
Matt Vickers, deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, said: “The rats are abandoning the sinking ship that is Keir Starmer’s premiership.
“Labour MPs should stop moaning and put him out of his misery. The country deserves so much better than this weak, chaotic…
