Keir Starmer was plunged into fresh crisis today as one of his spin chiefs dramatically quit.
No10 communications director James Lyons announced he is leaving the role after a year amid a desperate effort to ‘reset’ the PM’s team.
Mr Lyons insisted he had never intended to stay in indefinitely and had wanted to help ‘get a grip’ after a ‘difficult’ few months for the Labour government.
The departure raises fresh questions about Sir Keir’s judgment, after the exits of his previous comms chief Matthew Doyle and chief of staff Sue Gray.
It comes after a torrid summer for the premier, dominated by protests about Channel boats and asylum hotels.
Labour is trailing far behind Nigel Farage’s Reform in the polls, with fears Rachel Reeves will have to impose more eye-watering tax hikes at the Budget to fill a huge black hole in the public finances.
In a message to colleagues, Mr Lyon said: ‘It was an honour to be asked to come in ‘I’m proud to have helped to get a grip on Whitehall comms after what was a difficult few first months for the Government
‘It wasn’t just filling the grid. Launching the Plan for Change brought focus and direction.
‘But I gave up a lot to come in and this was never intended as a long haul.
‘When I came back from the summer break I told colleagues I was looking to leave by the end of the year ‘I’ve brought this forward to be part of the other changes.’
