Steph Driver, Keir Starmer’s director of communications, has quit Downing Street, becoming the latest in a series of senior aides to leave the prime minister’s team in recent months. Driver, who served as Starmer’s communications chief for five years, decided to step down after discussions about a new team structure, following a period of leave for a family bereavement.
Her departure comes just over a week after Paul Ovenden, the director of political strategy, resigned. Earlier this month, James Lyons, the director of communications for strategy, also left after only a year in the role. The exits have prompted a wider reorganisation, with Starmer bringing in Tim Allan, a former adviser to Tony Blair and founder of the PR firm Portland, as executive director of government communications, a more senior role.
Insiders say Driver was particularly valued and trusted by Starmer, who was among those who tried to persuade her to stay. A Downing Street source confirmed it was her decision to go, and that conversations with the prime minister and chief of staff Morgan McSweeney had led her to conclude the restructured team was not the right fit.
In a statement, Starmer praised Driver’s “calm, wise counsel, leadership and humour”, adding she had played a “leading role in transforming the Labour party and delivering our historic general election win”. Driver said she was “proud of what this government has already delivered” and thanked the No 10 press team, while expressing “unwavering support” for the Labour government.
The churn in Starmer’s communications operation has raised concerns about the effectiveness of Downing Street’s media strategy, but some Labour MPs argue the more pressing issue is the prime minister’s perceived lack of political judgment, citing backbench revolts over welfare changes and the dismissal of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington.
