PM’s communications chief quits after just nine months

Sir Keir Starmer’s communications chief has stepped down from his role after a turbulent nine months in Downing Street and repeated complaints about the party’s media strategy.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

Matthew Doyle, who also served as a special adviser under Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, is stepping down as director of communications with immediate effect. Cabinet ministers had frequently complained about Labour’s communication, including around its post-election conference last September.

Many within Labour had called for a change in direction, and sources in Downing Street have said they are happy with the reset. He is the second senior member of Sir Keir’s team to leave in less than a year following his former chief of staff Sue Gray, who was forced out in a power struggle with her successor Morgan McSweeney.

Mr Doyle is understood to have decided now is the time to step down after feeling he had stabilised No 10’s communications strategy and narrative over the past few months, following the turbulence of the early days in government, The Guardian reported.