Sir Keir Starmer’s communications chief has resigned after nine months in Downing Street.
Labour veteran Matthew Doyle, who worked for Tony Blair, was brought in as Sir Keir’s communications director four years ago, when the party was in opposition.
He is the second senior member of Sir Keir’s team to leave less than a year after the general election, following Sue Gray walking out of the door as his chief of staff in the autumn.
Mr Doyle’s departure is expected to lead to the promotions of James Lyons to director of communications (strategy) and Steph Driver to director of communications (delivery).
Mr Doyle’s decision to quit and leave immediately has caused some surprise, but one special adviser said he “had been increasingly detached for some time. It was clear that Lyons was actually in charge – and doing an excellent job to be fair”.
The veteran spin doctor has more than a quarter of a century of experience with Labour, beginning as the head of press for the party in 1998, before a brief stint as an adviser to David Blunkett, then the work and pensions secretary.
Moving into Blair’s No 10 in 2005, Mr Doyle rose to become deputy head of communications, and carried on working for Blair after he left office for another five years.
He spent a period working at the charity International Rescue with David Miliband, the former Blair-era foreign secretary, and set up his own consultancy.
Mr Doyle joined Sir Keir Starmer’s team in the summer of 2021, arguably the lowest point of his leadership, shortly after a humiliating defeat for Labour in a by-election in Hartlepool.
An email from Mr Doyle to colleagues this morning, seen by the , said “it’s time to pass the baton on”.
He added: “I wanted to let you know that I have informed the prime minister I am standing down as director of communications.
“When I started working for Keir four years ago, not many people thought we could win a general election and certainly not in the emphatic way we did.
“That was down to the hard work and determination of so many people and of course Keir’s leadership.
“I am incredibly proud of the part I have played in returning our party to government and the change we are already bringing to the country. Now it’s time to pass the baton on.”
In a statement, Sir Keir said: “Matthew brought his considerable experience to my team in summer 2021 and has worked tirelessly by my side every day since playing a leading role in Labour’s historic election win.
“On a personal level it has been a real privilege to work with him and on behalf of the entire team I wish him all the very best for his next role.”
Special advisers from across government are gathering for an away day today, at which new arrangements for Labour’s communications team will be discussed.
Mr Doyle’s role is expected to be split between Ms Driver, who is Downing Street’s current deputy communications director, and Mr Lyons, a former political journalist and TikTok spinner who joined Number 10 last year.
Ms Driver will focus on day-to-day interactions with journalists, with Mr Lyons’ attention on managing the grid of forthcoming government announcements.
The prime minister’s former chief of staff, now Lady Gray of Tottenham, was forced out after a vicious briefing campaign against her by colleagues and gave her maiden speech in the House of Lords on Thursday.
