LONDON — Keir Starmer’s director of communications resigned Monday, marking the second high-profile exit from the British prime minister’s crisis-hit team in less than 24 hours.

Tim Allan, who previously served as an adviser to Tony Blair, was only appointed Downing Street director of communications in September 2025.

In a statement, Allan said: “I have decided to stand down to allow a new No 10 team to be built. I wish the PM and his team every success.”

Allan’s resignation comes a day after Morgan McSweeney resigned as the PM’s chief of staff, having recommended the controversial appointment of Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the U.S. Mandelson’s links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — and Starmer’s decision to appoint him to the key diplomatic post anyway — have come under intense scrutiny in recent days.

This developing story is being updated.