Major Blow For Starmer As Another Member Of Top No.10 Team Quits

Another top aide to Keir Starmer has quit No.10 in a fresh blow to the prime minister.

Steph Driver announced that she had resigned as the Downing Street director of communications on the eve of the Labour Party conference.

Her departure comes just two weeks after the No.10 director of strategic communications, James Lyons, also quit.

And barely a week ago, director of strategy Paul Ovenden resigned  over resurfaced messages he sent about backbencher Diane Abbott in 2017.

A senior Labour source told HuffPost UK: “Impossible to express what a big loss it is. Typically classy from Steph as well. It is incredible how casual they have been about losing their best and most loyal people.”

Driver, who had been on leave due to a family bereavement, was one of Starmer’s most senior aides, having worked as his communications chief for five years when he was the leader of the opposition.

She then became deputy director of communications in Downing Street before being promoted after her predecessor in the role, Matthew Doyle, quit earlier this year.

Keir Starmer told The Guardian: “Steph Driver has been a loyal and valued member of my team for almost five years. Steph played a 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.”

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.”

It’s the latest blow to the already beleaguered prime minister, especially as his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney is currently under scrutiny right now over how he declared past political donations.