By Chris McCall
Copyright dailyrecord
Keir Starmer has suffered a fresh blow after another senior aide has announced their departure from Downing Street. Stephanie Driver served as the Labour leader’s head of communications for five years before his party won a thumping general election victory last summer, and continued in the same role at Number 10. Her exit comes a week after another key figure, Paul Ovendon, quit as the PM’s director of political strategy. James Lyons, who was the No 10 director of communications for strategy, also left this month after only a year in the job. Driver said the Prime Minister’s Government had her “unwavering support” as she announced her departure on Thursday, as first reported by the Guardian. Starmer said: “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.” Driver is said to have reached the decision to go after conversations with Starmer and Morgan McSweeney, the PM’s chief of staff, about a new communications team structure. It comes as Andy Burnham said he thought that there was a sense in Westminster that “everything is in flux” as he dismissed suggestions he had failed to help improve public transport in Greater Manchester. The Greater Manchester mayor told the BBC of his current role: “I love everything about this job. I am completely committed to it … and I think what we’ve got to do is to sort of stop the sense in Westminster at times that everything is in flux.” He said he had not “gone out there, just me on my own” and suggested “people have been getting in touch with me” asking him to run. To sign up to the Daily R ecord Politics newsletter, click here
