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Tim Allan, who served as Sir Keir Starmer’s director of communications, has announced his resignation, coming just a day after the prime minister’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, stepped down. Allan’s departure marks the fourth time a communications head has left Downing Street within the past year. He held his position for approximately five months before deciding to step aside.
In a formal statement, Allan expressed his reasoning, saying, “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 resignations come at a sensitive time for Sir Keir, who has faced considerable pressure after revelations emerged concerning his former ambassador to the US, Lord Peter Mandelson, and his connections with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. These disclosures have considerably weakened the prime minister’s standing.
The turnover among communications chiefs is notable. When the Labour government assumed office in July 2024, Matthew Doyle—who had previously been communications chief during the opposition—was the first to hold the position. Doyle departed after nine months, describing it as “time to pass the baton on,” and was succeeded by Steph Driver and James Lyons, both of whom also eventually left. Allan took over the role in September 2025. Meanwhile, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has criticized the resignations as evidence that the prime minister has lost control of his administration, describing Sir Keir as “in office but not in power” and vulnerable to Labour MPs.
The recent exits have left Sir Keir scrambling to stabilize his leadership. McSweeney, who resigned on Sunday, cited taking “full responsibility” for advising the appointment of Lord Mandelson as ambassador in 2024. Mandelson was dismissed by the prime minister in September following the release of documents suggesting a close relationship between him and Epstein, which Sir Keir insists he was misled about. Losing McSweeney, a trusted adviser since Sir Keir’s leadership campaign, was a significant setback. Allan’s sudden resignation compounds this challenge, underscoring the need for the prime minister to reassure Labour MPs that he has a concrete plan to recover.
Looking ahead, Sir Keir is scheduled to meet with backbenchers from the parliamentary Labour party (PLP) on Monday evening. He is expected to reiterate arguments he previously shared during a private dinner at Chequers, notably expressing shared frustration about the damaging impact of Lord Mandelson’s conduct on political trust. Efforts are underway within Sir Keir’s team to improve the appointments process, including proposals to enhance vetting and tighten lobbying regulations. These reforms are anticipated to be a central focus as the prime minister seeks to rebuild confidence and address the ongoing criticism of his leadership
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