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Keir Starmer’s head of communications, Steph Driver, has announced she is leaving Downing Street, the latest in a series of trusted aides to the prime minister who have quit No 10 in recent months.
The departure of Driver, who spent five years at Starmer’s side as communications chief when he was opposition leader, before becoming deputy director and then director of communications at Downing Street, comes little more than a week after another key figure, Paul Ovendon, quit as the PM’s director of political strategy.
Also this month, James Lyons, who was the No 10 director of communications for strategy – Driver focused on day-to-day matters – left after only a year in the job.
A subsequent reshuffle of the comms operation led Starmer to bring in Tim Allan, an adviser to Tony Blair in No 10 who went on to fund the PR firm Portland, as executive director of government communications. While Driver and Lyons had equal status, Allan’s job made him more senior.
Driver was seen as particularly valued and trusted by Starmer, and it is understood the prime minister was among a series of senior figures who tried to persuade her to stay.
It was Driver’s decision to go. It is understood that after conversations with Starmer and Morgan McSweeney, the PM’s chief of staff, about the new communications team structure, Driver decided to step down following a period of leave for a family bereavement.
Starmer said: “Steph Driver has been a loyal and valued member of my team for almost five years. Steph played a leading role in transforming the Labour party and delivering our historic general election win. I will for ever be grateful for her calm, wise counsel, leadership and humour. I wish her all the best in her undoubted onward success.”
Driver said: “It has been an honour to work with and advise Keir through opposition and into government. Being part of the team to rebuild and rebrand the Labour party before securing an historic general election victory is an achievement and experience like no other.
“I’m also proud of what this government has already delivered, and thank the sharp and talented No 10 press team for their hard work and support during my tenure.
“I’m grateful to the prime minister for his continued faith in me and my work, and for his offer of an open door in the future. His Labour government has my unwavering support.”
Almost always at Starmer’s side, particularly during the election campaign, Driver was a constant presence in his press operation, and was widely viewed by colleagues and journalists as loyal and unflappable.
After Labour won the election she initially served as deputy director of communications to Matthew Doyle, like Allan a veteran of the Blair years, who had worked for Starmer since 2021.
In March, Doyle said he was standing down from the role after nine months in No 10.
