Labour director of communications: runners and riders

These days it’s easier to work out who is leaving Keir Starmer’s team than who is still in it. Ahead of the Batley and Spen by-election next Thursday, there have been a series of moves and departures – from one-time political secretary Jenny Chapman’s demotion to a raft of departures in the comms team.

After Labour’s top spinner Ben Nunn stepped down, the hunt is on for a new Director of Communications to turn round Starmer’s lacklustre approval ratings. Already the team is on its second interim replacement, with Steph Driver replaced on Wednesday by Blair-era fixture Matthew Doyle. Asked for their thoughts on who’d get the job, one top Labour aide told Mr S ‘God knows.’

The current buzz within Labour’s Victoria Street headquarters is about whether the new hires will be internal or external, drawn from the existing staff in the Leader of the Opposition’s office or brought in from outside.