Keir Starmer’s Top Official Departs Downing Street Amid Staff Shake-Up
Sir Keir Starmer is set to lose another senior staff member at Downing Street, marking the third high-profile departure under his premiership in under a year.
Nin Pandit, the Prime Minister’s principal private secretary, has served just 10 months in the post. According to the BBC, she is moving to a new role following concerns over her effectiveness in one of the most influential civil service positions.
“Sir Keir retained trust and confidence in her,” allies of the PM insisted to the broadcaster.
This comes after a series of exits rocked No. 10. Sue Gray resigned as the Prime Minister’s chief of staff last October, and Matthew Doyle, head of communications, stepped down in March.
Ms Pandit was brought in during a major restructuring of the PM’s office after Baroness Gray’s departure. Baroness Gray had been awarded a peerage by Sir Keir following her exit, which followed weeks of speculation about a Downing Street power struggle.
In response, Sir Keir overhauled his team. Morgan McSweeney took over as chief of staff, while two deputy chiefs of staff and a new head of strategic communications were appointed alongside Ms Pandit as principal private secretary.
Despite these changes, Labour’s standing in opinion polls has continued to slide. The latest YouGov survey, released while Sir Keir is on a family holiday abroad, showed Labour support at just 20 per cent, their lowest since he became leader and the party’s worst result since July 2019. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, held an eight-point lead, polling at 28 per cent.
As principal private secretary, Ms Pandit has overseen the flow of Whitehall information to the Prime Minister and manages his diary – a role often described as one of the most coveted in the Civil Service.
No. 10 has not officially commented on her departure. Before joining Sir Keir’s team, Ms Pandit headed the No. 10 policy unit under Rishi Sunak and previously served as chief of staff to the NHS England chief executive.
This development highlights ongoing turbulence in Sir Keir Starmer’s senior team, raising questions about the stability and effectiveness of his Downing Street operation.
