The top Downing Street aide behind the “bring your own booze” email is to step down from his role, as Boris Johnson battles to save his premiership amid the ongoing partygate scandal.
Martin Reynolds, principal private secretary to the prime minister, is leaving No 10 in an apparent clear-out of top staff in the wake of public anger over lockdown parties and a growing revolt by Tory MPs.
The senior figure was named by ITV News as the official who invited staff by email to a “socially distanced drinks” in the No 10 garden on 20 May 2020 – an event now under investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
Downing Street chief of staff Dan Rosenfield has also had his resignation accepted by the PM, according to a surprise announcement by No 10 on Thursday evening.
Their exits follow the departure of communications director Jack Doyle, who left No 10 earlier on Thursday and reportedly told staff that recent weeks had taken “a terrible toll” on his family life.
The exodus comes as Mr Johnson was rocked by the unexpected resignation of his policy chief Munira Mirza – who quit in protest at his “scurrilous” smear linking Sir Keir Starmer with the case of paedophile Jimmy Savile.
Ms Mirza said there was “no fair or reasonable basis” for Mr Johnson’s false claim that the Labour leader had failed to prosecute Savile, and made clear that the PM had resisted pleas from advisers to apologise.
Mr Johnson’s former aide-turned-nemesis Dominic Cummings seized upon Ms Mirza’s departure “an unmistakable signal the bunker is collapsing and this PM is finished”.
Mr Doyle – named during the partygate scandal for handing out awards at a 2020 Christmas drinks event in No 10 – insisted it had always been his plan to go at this point, following news of his departure on Thursday afternoon.
Following reports that two more senior figures were leaving, a No 10 spokesperson announced: “Dan Rosenfield offered his resignation to the prime minister earlier today, which has been accepted.”
The statement added: “Martin Reynolds also informed the prime minister of his intention to stand down from his role as principal private secretary and the prime minister has agreed to this.”
Unlike Ms Mirza’s, these agreed resignations appeared to be part of a planned purge of staff intended to help Mr Johnson reset his premiership despite the police probe into 12 allegedly lockdown-breaching social events.
The Independent revealed two weeks ago that is Mr Johnson was drawing up a list of officials to offer resignations over partygate as part of a plan dubbed “Operation Save Big Dog”.
The prime minister attempted to placate angry Tory backbenchers earlier this week by promising a shake-up at Downing Street. “I get it and I will fix it,” he said of the No 10 operation.
He promised a new office of the prime minister will be created with a new permanent secretary to streamline the chain of command.
It followed an “update” report by top civil servant Sue Gray into lockdown gatherings at Downing Street and Whitehall – which blasted “failures of leadership” but was stripped of any telling detail following an intervention by Scotland Yard.
Confronted with Ms Mirza’s comments about the Savile smear in an interview with 5News, Mr Johnson said “I don’t agree with that” – before he again refused to apologise.
Downing Street announced the appointment of the Tory MP Andrew Griffith as her replacement, saying: “We are very sorry Munira has left No 10 and are grateful for her service and contribution to government.”
Mr Reynolds and Mr Rosenfield are set to continue in their roles while successors are appointed, with recruitment for both posts now underway.
