Tim Allan's Resignation Exposes Starmer's Leadership Crisis
Tim Allan has stepped down as Keir Starmer's director of communications, marking the fourth such departure in just 19 months of government. This move comes a day after former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney quit, intensifying concerns about the prime minister's stability and effectiveness.
A Premiership in Freefall
Allan's exit after only five months in the role underscores a premiership that appears to be unraveling rapidly. Sir Keir Starmer is now tasked with finding his fifth communications director, assuming he remains in office long enough to make such an appointment. The frequent turnover in this critical position has consistently hindered the prime minister's ability to articulate a clear and coherent message to the public.
Allan was not drawn to the role out of loyalty to Starmer, but rather at the behest of McSweeney, who had urged him to join a struggling team. This lack of genuine commitment may explain why Allan decided to leave less than 24 hours after McSweeney's own resignation. A source revealed, "Tim Allan's heart was never in it – just his black book [of contacts]."
Failed Attempts to Recreate the Blair Era
The appointment of Allan was part of a broader strategy by McSweeney to emulate the success of Tony Blair's New Labour era. Allan had previously served in Blair's communications team during the early 2000s, a period often viewed as Labour's golden age. Similarly, Starmer's decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US was driven by this same nostalgic logic, a move that has contributed to the current government's potential collapse.
However, Allan's tenure proved damaging in its own right. He sparked unnecessary conflicts with parliamentary lobby journalists by canceling afternoon briefings, restricting morning sessions, and attempting to prioritize questions from social media influencers over traditional media. His arrival also led to the departure of Steph Driver, the previous joint director of communications, who was widely regarded as one of Starmer's few competent aides in Downing Street.
Poisoned Relations and Dwindling Support
The deterioration of relations with even friendly news outlets has exacerbated Starmer's challenges, as he grapples with poor polling numbers and waning confidence from his own Labour MPs. Speculation had suggested that Allan was promised a peerage to return to government, but this now seems unlikely. For Allan, the stress and financial incentives were unnecessary; moments after announcing his resignation, he updated his WhatsApp profile picture to read "out of office, gone golfing."
In the aftermath, Starmer is left with a leadership vacuum in Downing Street, no communications director, and diminishing support. The inability to attract external talent for key roles, such as chief of staff, has forced internal promotions, further highlighting the toxic atmosphere perceived within the government. This series of setbacks paints a bleak picture for a prime minister increasingly seen as vulnerable and isolated.
