Comings and goings at Number 11 Downing Street

Few politicians have put as much thought in to the team around them as George Osborne. He is a collector of talented people. Unlike most Tories, he has gone outside of CCHQ and parliament for nearly every senior appointment he’s made. But I understand that after Christmas he’ll be losing one of the most important members of his operation, Poppy Mitchell-Rose.

Mitchell-Rose has acted as Osborne’s fixer and gatekeeper since he first became shadow Chancellor. On the long—and sometimes bumpy—road from opposition to government, she has been a calm sherpa who has dealt with a host of problems before they have even arisen. But she is now moving to Washington, DC, before starting a career in the private sector. I suspect that she’ll not be short of job offers.

Mitchell-Rose’s Special Adviser position will be taken by Thea Rogers, who is currently the BBC’s lead political producer. She’ll have a particular emphasis on the broadcast presentation of Osborne’s economic and political strategy.