Starmer's director of communications Tim Allan quits

Sir Keir Starmer's director of communications, Tim Allan, has resigned the day after the prime minister lost his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.

Allan is the fourth communications chief to leave Downing Street in less than a year, and served in the post for five months.

In a statement, he said: "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 prime minister has been weakened after revelations about his former ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson's links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Sir Keir's first communications chief when the Labour government came to power in July 2024 was Matthew Doyle, who had served in the role in opposition.

Doyle left nine months later, emailing colleagues that it was "time to pass the baton on", and was replaced by Steph Driver and James Lyons, both of whom have since left No 10. Allan started as director of communications in September 2025.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the resignation was "yet another sign that Keir Starmer has lost control of his government".

Speaking to broadcasters she said the prime minister is "in office but not in power" and "completely at the mercy of Labour MPs", adding that "Labour psychodrama" means the country is "not being governed".

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