One of Keir Starmer’s most senior advisers has resigned from Downing Street after sexually explicit messages about Diane Abbott from 2017 came to light. Paul Ovenden quit his position as Director of Strategy in Number 10 today following the emergence of the disturbing exchanges.
The messages, sent whilst Mr Ovenden was working as a journalist before joining Labour in 2014, contained graphic sexual content about the veteran MP. The Mail understands that Ovenden had exchanged emails with a former colleague in which he recounted a story about a game of “shag, marry, kill” involving Ms Abbott.
In the 2017 email exchange, Ovenden graphically described how two women had acted out their description of how they would sleep with the Labour MP. The explicit nature of the messages left the Prime Minister with little choice but to accept his adviser’s resignation.
Mr Ovenden, who has been a close ally of both Starmer and his under-pressure chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, stepped down to avoid becoming “a distraction” to the government. His departure represents another blow to an already embattled Number 10 operation.
The resignation adds to a growing list of scandals plaguing the Prime Minister in recent weeks. Sir Keir is already dealing with the fallout from Angela Rayner’s resignation over underpaying taxes and the sacking of Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the United States late last week.
Ovenden’s role as Director of Strategy placed him at the heart of Downing Street’s political operation. His departure leaves a significant gap in Starmer’s inner circle at a time when the government faces mounting pressure on multiple fronts.
The former newspaper journalist had transitioned into politics in 2014 when he began working for the Labour Party. His rise through the ranks saw him become one of Starmer’s most trusted advisers, making his resignation all the more damaging for the Prime Minister.
The sexually explicit messages about Diane Abbott, one of Labour’s longest-serving and most prominent Black MPs, raise serious questions about the culture within political circles. Abbott has faced numerous instances of abuse throughout her career, and these revelations will likely reignite discussions about the treatment of women in politics.
The timing of the resignation could hardly be worse for Starmer, who has been attempting to steady his government after a series of setbacks. The loss of his Director of Strategy compounds existing problems within Number 10 and raises questions about judgement in senior appointments.
Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s chief of staff who was closely allied with Ovenden, now faces additional scrutiny. The scandal touches the highest levels of the Prime Minister’s team and threatens to undermine confidence in the Downing Street operation.
The emergence of the 2017 messages demonstrates how past behaviour can return to haunt political figures years later. Despite the emails predating Ovenden’s time in Number 10, their content made his position untenable once they became public.
For Diane Abbott, the revelation of such messages from someone who would later occupy a senior government position represents another indignity in a career marked by pioneering achievements and persistent abuse. The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington has not yet commented on the resignation.
The government now faces the challenge of filling a crucial strategic role whilst dealing with the reputational damage from yet another scandal. The Director of Strategy position is vital for coordinating government messaging and political planning.
Starmer’s leadership, already under strain from recent controversies, faces fresh questions about his judgement and ability to maintain discipline within his team. The Prime Minister had hoped to reset his government’s agenda but instead finds himself managing another crisis.
As Number 10 attempts to move forward, the resignation serves as a reminder of how quickly political fortunes can change and how past actions can derail present ambitions. The search for Ovenden’s replacement begins immediately as Starmer seeks to stabilise his troubled administration.
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