Downing Street has categorically denied rumors of an imminent resignation by Sir Keir Starmer, reassuring the public that the British Prime Minister remains "upbeat and confident" despite a wave of departures from his inner circle. The statement followed the resignation yesterday of the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Morgan McSweeney, and today’s departure of the government’s fourth communications director, Tim Allan. Asked directly by reporters if Starmer intends to resign today, his official spokesperson replied with a single word: "No."
In a subsequent briefing, the same spokesperson added that the Prime Minister is "upbeat and confident" and "remains determined to deliver on the work he has undertaken." When questioned whether Starmer still enjoys the unanimous support of his Cabinet, the response was again affirmative.
Silence remains
Downing Street refused to clarify whether Tim Allan was dismissed or resigned voluntarily, nor what exactly he meant by his statement that he was leaving to "allow for a new team to be built in government." When asked to clarify if this foreshadows further resignations, the spokesperson pointed to the appointment of Vidhya Alakeson and Jill Cuthbertson as interim joint chiefs of staff. Following the denial of his resignation, journalists asked how much longer Starmer could continue under these circumstances. Downing Street replied that the Prime Minister is focused on promoting youth employment, as today marks the beginning of National Apprenticeship Week.
Staff in turmoil
Furthermore, it was confirmed that Starmer’s remarks to Downing Street staff—where he spoke of a "path forward" and "continuing to change the country with confidence"—were made before Tim Allan announced his departure. To the question of whether Allan heard the speech and subsequently decided to resign, the spokesperson limited his response to noting that the resignation had not been announced prior to the speech. Downing Street also rejected claims that "chaos" prevails within the Prime Minister’s office, despite the departure of several senior associates since July 2024. Tim Allan was Starmer’s fourth communications director, while Morgan McSweeney was his second chief of staff. According to the spokesperson, government ministers are currently "on the front line," promoting the agenda for growth and opportunity.
"Rats leaving the sinking ship"
The Conservatives moved to politically exploit the developments, calling on Labour MPs to "stop complaining and put Sir Keir Starmer out of his misery." Following the resignations of McSweeney and Allan, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stated that the events prove the Prime Minister has "lost control." In an official party reaction, Conservative Deputy Chairman Matt Vickers stated: "The rats are leaving the sinking ship that is Keir Starmer’s premiership. Labour MPs need to stop the muttering and put him out of his misery. The country deserves much better than this weak and chaotic government."
Starmer’s troubles
Tim Allan confirmed his definitive departure from Downing Street in his own way. The former communications director changed his profile picture on WhatsApp—the preferred communication tool for Westminster journalists—to an image of golf clubs and a ball, accompanied by the phrase "Gone Golfing." Allan is the second high-ranking official to leave Number 10 within two days, following Morgan McSweeney. While he may be heading to the golf course, he leaves behind a Prime Minister in increasingly unstable political waters, as pressure from his own MPs intensifies.
Flynn calls on Starmer to "resign"
The leader of the SNP at Westminster has called on the Prime Minister to "do the decent thing and resign." The statement comes after the departure of two of Sir Keir Starmer's top aides from Number 10 in less than 24 hours. Reacting to the developments, Stephen Flynn told the Press Association (PA): "The Labour government is in chaos and is completely distracted from the issues that truly matter to citizens—such as supporting families against the cost of living, which has skyrocketed under Keir Starmer."
He added that the Labour Party is "stumbling from one crisis to another and has failed to deliver the change it promised to voters." Continuing, he stressed: "It is not in the interest of Scotland—nor anyone else—for this state of chaos to continue indefinitely. It is clear that voters have lost their trust in Keir Starmer and, with MPs from his own party calling for his departure, he has become a 'lame duck leader,' lacking the necessary authority to implement changes." Concluding, Flynn stated: "This endless chaos cannot continue. Keir Starmer must do the decent thing and resign."
www.bankingnews.gr
Σχόλια αναγνωστών