Sir Keir Starmer is replacing the top civil servant in his Downing Street office – the third senior staff member to leave their role in less than a year.
Nin Pandit, who is the principal private secretary (PPS) in No 10 and runs the prime minister’s team, has only been in the role for 10 months. It is understood she will be leaving that role in September, and taking up a different position in the Downing Street operation.
Her departure comes after chief of staff Sue Gray was forced out last October, while Matthew Doyle – the previous director of comms for Sir Keir – stood down in March.
Serving as the PPS to the prime minister is one of the most significant roles in the civil service, acting as gatekeeper between the PM and the official government machine, controlling the flow of information to the prime minister and shaping their diary.
People often hold that role before running major government departments or running the civil service in its entirety.
It is understood that there is an internal process ongoing to recruit for her replacement.
A Downing Street source said: “The prime minister is taking direct oversight on how his priorities are delivered in No 10. Nin has been asked to lead on that work based in Downing Street from September. He trusts and backs Nin to lead on that important work.”
Ms Gray was sacked as chief of staff last year after losing a power struggle with election strategist Morgan McSweeney, following a difficult start to government, plagued by infighting and a row over freebies.
Mr Doyle departed earlier this year as the prime minister sought to reshuffle his top team of advisers following complaints that he had failed to get his message across on thorny issues like the ditching of winter fuel payments.
And now, amid further questions over the direction of government and mounting criticism over its handling of the migrant crisis, Ms Pandit’s departure has triggered speculation that Sir Keir is attempting to conduct another reset within Downing Street.
He is also expected to reshuffle his junior ministers when parliament returns in September.
When Ms Pandit was appointed, it was announced by No 10 in the same press release that marked the departure of Ms Gray.
Ms Pandit worked previously as the director of the Downing Street Policy Unit from November 2022. Prior to that, she led the No 10 Delivery Unit’s health and social care team.
