The Speaker
Friday, 29 March 2024 – 06:08

Mass Exodus from No. 10 as fifth aide resigns

Elena Narozanski, one of the Prime Minister’s aides, resigned on Friday morning, bringing the total number of resignations to 5 aides in just 2 days.

On Thursday Munira Mirza, the Prime Minister’s policy adviser and 14 year Johnson ally, sometimes described as “Boris’ Brain”, tendered her resignation. By the end of Thursday; Johnson’s communications chief Jack Doyle, chief of staff Dan Rosenfield, and senior civil servant Martin Reynolds had also resigned.

Mirza resigned over the Prime Minister’s refusal to retract his comments accusing Labour leader Keir Starmer of failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile, describing Johnson’s comments as “scurrilous”. The three other resignations were announced in quick succession on Thursday night.

Defenders of Boris Johnson argue that this is evidence that the PM is delivering on his promise to “shake-up” Downing St. operations following the release of Sue Gray’s report.

Critics argue that the later three resignations were planned to happen later but were rushed in an attempt to make Munira Mirza’s resignation seem like a strategic decision.

Energy Minister, Greg Hands, said of the resignations:

“The PM was absolutely clear there would be changes at the top and that’s what he has delivered.”

While former No 10 official, Nikki da Costa, who had worked alongside Mirza, stated:

“For me this has all the signs of being rushed, in order to try and regain control.”

On Friday morning Elena Narozanski, adviser to the prime minister for women and equalities, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and extremism, also announced her resignation.

Angela Raynor, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, said:

“With [the Prime Minister’s] senior advisers and aides quitting, perhaps it is finally time for him to look in the mirror and consider if he might just be the problem.”

The resignations come after at least 10 conservative MPs have publicly called on the PM to resign, with several believed to have submitted letters of no-confidence.

Aaron Bell, MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, became the latest to publicly confirm their letter. Bell said the prime minister’s position was “untenable” following recent events.

 

Skip to content