Keir Starmer to replace third top aide in less than a year

Sir Keir Starmer is changing the highest civil servant in his Downing Avenue workplace.Principal personal secretary Nin Pandit runs the prime minister’s staff at No 10 and has solely been within the position for ten months.She is the third senior employees member the prime minister has appointed and later let go, after chief of employees Sue Grey left in October and director of communications Matthew Doyle stood down in March.Ms Pandit’s appointment had been introduced by No 10 in the identical press launch that marked Ms Grey’s departure.The BBC understands the prime minister had grow to be involved Ms Pandit was ineffective within the position, though No 10 contests this and allies of the prime minister stated he retained belief and confidence in her.Ms Pandit will transfer into a brand new position main on coverage supply at No 10.It’s unclear whether or not she’s going to head up the Downing Avenue coverage operation. Authorities sources have beforehand complained that three different officers all think about themselves to be Starmer’s head of coverage.The BBC has contacted Ms Pandit for remark.The prime minister’s principal personal secretary (PPS) is among the most prized jobs within the civil service and infrequently a precursor to operating main authorities departments or the service as an entire.They act because the prime minister’s gatekeeper to the official authorities machine and “run their life” in line with one former insider.They management the knowledge circulation to the prime minister, form their diary and are sometimes the final individual within the room when main choices are made.The PPS often sits alongside the chief of employees simply outdoors the prime minister’s workplace in No 10.Earlier than changing into PPS, Ms Pandit ran the No 10 coverage unit throughout Rishi Sunak’s premiership. Earlier in her profession she was chief of employees to the chief government of NHS England.After a sequence of Labour parliamentary rebellions earlier than the summer season break, many in authorities are additionally anticipating Sir Keir to quickly start a reshuffle of his junior ministers.