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Who’s who in Downing Street now?

Changes follow departure of Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain

Caitlin Doherty
Saturday 14 November 2020 12:12 EST
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James Slack, Sir Edward Lister and Allegra Stratton all have top roles in Downing Street
James Slack, Sir Edward Lister and Allegra Stratton all have top roles in Downing Street (Reuters, PA, Getty)

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Two of the prime minister's most trusted advisers are leaving Downing Street.

But with Lee Cain and Dominic Cummings out of Boris Johnson's inner circle, who is filling the top jobs in No 10?

Here is a look at some people in the prime minister's top team:

Sir Edward Lister

Sir Edward Lister was announced as the interim chief of staff, pending a permanent appointment, on Friday evening.

He has been serving as the prime minister's chief strategic adviser, and several weeks ago was involved in negotiations with leaders in Greater Manchester over coronavirus restrictions.

A long-term ally who also supported Mr Johnson during his time as mayor of London, Sir Edward served as deputy mayor of London between 2011 and 2012 and was nominated for a peerage in July 2020.

James Slack

Currently the prime minister's official spokesman, James Slack confirmed he would be taking on Mr Cain's role as director of communications when he departs.

Previously a Daily Mail journalist, Mr Slack held the same official spokesman role during Theresa May's premiership as a member of the permanent civil service.

Allegra Stratton

A former broadcast journalist, Allegra Stratton has not long worked in No 10, having been recently recruited to the newly formed role fronting the upcoming televised press briefings.

She made the switch from journalism to Whitehall earlier this year, after being recruited as Rishi Sunak's communications chief at the Treasury in April.

Her hiring was reportedly a move that Mr Cain opposed and he took it as a blow to his authority, and long-simmering tensions in No 10 began boiling over.

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