Boris Johnson has announced new staffing appointments at Number 10 following a turbulent week for the under-fire Prime Minister.
A number of Conservative MPs have submitted letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister after the fall-out from 'partygate', while four of Mr Johnson's advisers resigned within hours of one another on Thursday (February 3).
They included Munira Mirza, the Prime Minister's policy chief who quit over his 'scurrilous' remarks made in the House of Commons, when he falsely suggested Sir Keir Starmer failed to prosecute sex offender Jimmy Savile while serving as director of public prosecutions.
But Mr Johnson has tonight (Saturday) announced a number of staffing changes which he says will 'improve how Number 10 operates, strengthen the role of my Cabinet and backbench colleagues, and accelerate our defining mission to level up the country'.
Steve Barclay, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, will become the PM’s chief of staff and will be 'in charge of integrating the new Office of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Office, driving the Government’s agenda more efficiently and ensuring it is better aligned with the Cabinet and backbenchers', Number 10 said.
Journalist Guto Harri is joining Downing Street as director of communications.
He was Mr Johnson’s spokesman and chief of staff during his first term as London mayor.
Mr Johnson said: “This week I promised change, so that we can get on with the job the British public elected us to do.
"We need to continue our recovery from the pandemic, help hundreds of thousands more people into work, and deliver our ambitious agenda to level up the entire country, improving people’s opportunities regardless of where they’re from.
“The changes I’m announcing to my senior team today will improve how Number 10 operates, strengthen the role of my Cabinet and backbench colleagues, and accelerate our defining mission to level up the country.”
More announcements are expected in the coming days with what Number 10 said would be a 'particular focus on improving engagement and liaison with MPs'.
During a visit to Middleton on Thursday, the Prime Minister told the Manchester Evening News he was 'sorry for any misjudgements' made under his watch, while Greater Manchester residents suffered some of the tightest lockdown rules in the country.
The first part of civil servant Sue Gray's report was released on Monday, naming 16 alleged gatherings in Downing Street or Whitehall, of which 12 are now being investigated by police.
A poll carried out by the M.E.N. found that 82% of more than 1,200 respondents wanted to see Mr Johnson resign from his position.
