PR director Rishi Sunaka quits after 10 months

Amber de Botton took on Downing Street's highest-ranking PR position last November

Rishi's PR Director Sunaka unexpectedly left Downing Street just 10 months after joining his team, with the departure coming amid a wider shake-up at number 10.

Amber de Botton, former senior political journalist for ITV News and Sky News, announced her departure on Twitter Friday afternoon.

She wrote on social media:

It has been an honor and privilege to be the prime minister's director of public relations, but I have decided that now is the right time to move on. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Prime Minister for his support and leadership. (1/2)

— Amber de Botton (@amberdebotton) September 1, 2023

Ms. de Botton said the team Mr. Sunak has built around him was «dedicated and driven because those are the qualities he inspires» and thanked her colleagues, adding: «Number 10 is demanding and busy place to work, but the professionalism and talent they show every day is exceptional.”

She was recruited to work with the press by Mr. Sunak as he sought to gain more experience in television news after becoming Prime Minister, having been Deputy Head of Political at Sky News and then Head of Political at ITV News.

Mr. Sunak has a close-knit group of advisors and assistants who have gone from Treasury to Number 10 with him.

Ms De Botton took on the highest-ranking public relations position for Downing Street a month after he became prime minister. . Nerissa Chesterfield, Mr. Sunak's chief media adviser at the Treasury, has been appointed as the new Director of Communications. She was Downing Street Press Secretary.

The news of Ms. De Botton's departure comes a day after Mr. Sunak held a mini-reshuffle ahead of MPs returning to parliament next week. Grant Shapps was named Secretary of Defense to replace Ben Wallace, and Claire Coutinho was named Minister of Energy Security and Clean Zero.

Among other changes, Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, a longtime conservative adviser, became the company's CEO. UK Music becomes Chief Strategy Officer for Mr. Sunak. Adam Atashzai, a former special adviser to David Cameron, has also been appointed as an adviser.

Mr Sunak's Downing Street operation is facing pressure given the broader political landscape, with the Conservatives far behind Labor in public opinion polls. .

Rolling averages from polls conducted on the Politico website show the Tories trailing the Labor Party by 19 percentage points, a huge gap with the general election expected next year. Autumn is widely seen in political circles as the most likely date, but the decision rests with Mr. Sunak.

Thursday, Liam Booth-Smith, the prime minister's chief of staff, told special advisers who are «not willing» I don't believe we can win» the elections and leave the government, according to Guido Fox's website.