Will the last lobby hack please turn out the lights? After Torcuil Crichton and Paul Waugh made the jump from journalism into politics by being elected last month, now another scribe has formally joined the Starmer army. After much Westminster speculation about the slowness of SpAd appointments, today Guido Fawkes revealed an interesting new hire. It transpires that the political editor of the famously partial Mirror tabloid has jumped ship – and right into the Cabinet Office.
John Stevens has opted to leave the world of lobby journalism for go and spin for top Keirleader Pat McFadden. During the Tory years, Stevens relished causing headaches for Tory spads with his scoops on ‘Partygate’ and the Afghanistan withdrawal. He replaced now-Guardian pol ed Pippa Crerar in 2022, after a five-year stint at the Daily Mail. His move today follows in the footsteps of another famous ex-Mirror journalist who left the lobby for Labour – though Mr S isn’t sure how many spinners would appreciate the Alistair Campbell comparison…
Still, who says the Labour party does nothing for the people of Cornwall?
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