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.
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.
Downing Street was approached for comment.
This is a breaking news story. More to come…
