𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Ms Alakeson has responsibility for policy and delivery and has managed Downing Street’s external relationships. Before Labour entered office, she forged ties with the business community as the party’s director of external relations. The former Resolution Foundation think tank deputy chief executive served in the No 10 strategy unit and in the Treasury during the last Labour government.

Ms Cuthbertson has managed the Prime Minister’s diary and has been described as the ultimate gatekeeper to Sir Keir.
She ran his office when he was leader of the opposition, having previously held similar roles for former Labour leaders Ed Miliband and Gordon Brown.

Mr McSweeney resigned as the Prime Minister’s chief of staff after coming under intense pressure over the Lord Peter Mandelson fiasco.

Sir Keir’s long-serving adviser had been widely held responsible for the peer’s appointment to the prestigious US ambassador role, a decision that reignited anger over his links to billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

In his exit statement, Mr McSweeney took “full responsibility” for giving Sir Keir advice that resulted in the “wrong” appointment decision.

Calls for Sir Keir to quit are growing louder among his own backbench MPs, even more so after Mr McSweeney’s departure.

Brian Leishman, the Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, said: “There must be a change in political direction and that comes from the very top.

“So the Prime Minister must look at his own position and question whether he should follow McSweeney’s lead one last time, and resign for the good of the country and the Labour Party.”

Ian Byrne, the MP for Liverpool West Derby, said: “This will not stop with a single resignation. A true change in political direction must now come from, and be led from, the very top.

“The Prime Minister must now reflect honestly on his own position and ask whether, for the good of the country and the Labour Party, he should follow McSweeney’s lead.”

The Prime Minister is believed to be preparing a national address as soon as tomorrow.