Labour has much to learn from Reform’s media operation

Ed Miliband once said of Lord Mandelson that he was ‘his own worst spin doctor’. Even that might be preferable to the current operation, described by insiders as snobbish, chaotic and ‘ultra-factional’. At this rate, having any spinners left would be a start.

‘Phase Two’ of this government, the ‘reset’ announced by Starmer at the beginning of this month including a ‘shake up’ of No. 10, was over almost as soon as it began. It was hoped that the arrival of Blairite comms pro Tim Allen and tabloid veteran David Dinsmore might change matters – and it still might. Yet reading the tea leaves, recent events bode ill.

On Thursday, Steph Driver quit as Starmer’s Head of Communications, meaning No. 10 have chalked up four losses in six months. David Pares, key Starmer spokesman, left the day befo