Keir Starmer is facing yet another crisis at the heart of Downing Street this afternoon, after one of his most senior aides was forced to resign. Paul Ovenden, one of the top staffers in No. 10, has left after old emails emerged showing him making offensive references to veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott.
The Mail reports that Mr Ovenden exchanged messages with a former colleague in 2017, “in which he retold a story about a game of ‘shag, marry, kill’ involving the elderly north London MP. The paper adds: “He then graphically recounted the conversation in the email how two women acted out their description of how they would sleep with Ms Abbott.” Mr Ovenden has already resigned in order to avoid becoming “a distraction” to the beleaguered Prime Minister.
Paul Ovenden’s emails have forced his departure (Image: Channel 4)
It comes just one week after Sir Keir lost another aide, Tom Kibasi, who helped him win the 2020 leadership election.
Mr Kibasi left after just two weeks, accused of having an “often aggressive communication style” and being “physically angry” on one occasion.
It comes as Sir Keir’s attempt at launching ‘phase 2’ of his government hit the rocks numerous times, including the resignation of deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and US Ambassador Peter Mandelson.
A Government source warned: “He is one of the best. None of us would be working in this building without him – and this country wouldn’t have had the chance for a better future without him.”
A second told the Express: “Not many people can say they’ve done more to deliver a landslide election than Paul.
“It’s a hard job to keep the Labour party looking past its own membership and to keep talking to the country. With Paul’s loss that will be even harder than before.”
Starmer is also facing the potential ousting of his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney (Image: Ian Vogler)
Dan Hodges, the Mail journalist and commentator who broke the story, explained: “Paul Ovenden isn’t widely known outside of Westminster.
“But after Morgan McSweeney, he was probably Keir Starmer’s most influential and well respected advisor. Another massive blow, and one that adds to the sense Downing Street is imploding.”
Sources claimed that Mr Ovenden had been planning to leave Downing Street in late September anyway, but had brought forwards the timing of his departure after being confronted by the emails.
While Ms Abbott is yet to comment on the story, earlier today the Mother of the House warned that “it will be over” for the Prime Minister if he isn’t able to turn Labour’s fortunes around before next May’s local elections.
She told Times Radio: “I don’t want to say that we should have a new leader tomorrow, but we know there are going to be a big set of elections in May, including Scotland and Wales.
“And we know that everybody is saying, not least Scottish and Welsh MPs, that we’re going to do badly in them. And I think if we do as badly as people say, well, it will be the case then that Starmer’s future as Labour leader and Labour prime minister will be over, really.”
Sir Keir is also battling to save his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, over allegations he was prominent in pushing for Lord Mandelson to be given, and then retain, his Washington Ambassadorship.
A No 10 spokesperson said: “These messages are appalling and unacceptable. As the first black woman to be elected to Parliament, Diane Abbott is a trailblazer who has faced horrendous abuse throughout her political career.
“These kinds of comments have no place in our politics.”
