How Keir Starmer’s Downing Street is disintegrating 

Tim Allan has stepped down as Starmer’s director of comms after just a few months.

He rated Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's former chief of staff, and had been close to Peter Mandelson (because of their New Labour and Blair origins), though it was him who told a furious Mandelson that the PM had sacked him.

There will inevitably be speculation that Mandelson sent Allan messages while ambassador that would embarrass the government and will have to be released following the parliamentary vote to publish all such communication.

Allan brought order to Downing Street comms in hugely challenging circumstances - he managed crisis after crisis, including the Angela Rayner resignation - so it is another big job for Starmer to fill.

Arguably Starmer has now lost his two most important aides in 24 hours. This is quite the crisis.

From Westminster to Washington DC - our political experts are across all the latest key talking points. Listen to the latest episode below...