BORIS Johnson has now lost five key aides in a brutal 24 hours that has sent Downing Street into meltdown.
Some were culled as part of a planned clearout of top staff to satisfy baying Tory MPs – but others were bolts from the blue that threw No10 into a tailspin.
It means the PM goes to work today without some of his most trusted lieutenants, posing big questions for his troubled leadership.
As he desperately seeks to move on from the Partygate storm, these are the five aides no longer by his side:
DAN ROSENFIELD – CHIEF OF STAFF
Rosenfield was brought into Downing Street at the start of last year to fill the void left by Dominic Cummings.
A former Treasury mandarin-turned-City banker, he was viewed as the much-needed sensible head to replace the Brexit maverick.
And crucially he was not allied to any of the warring factions competing in the power struggle for the PM’s ear.
But he quickly found himself in the firing line over the doomed European Super League after reportedly giving his tacit approval.
Since then Rosenfield, 44, has been the subject of hostile briefings from colleagues disillusioned with how he runs No10.
One insider told Trending In The News he has a “bunker mentality” during moments of crisis and regularly glosses over the tough issues at the bi-weekly meeting of government advisers.
Critics also say he lacks the political antennae to spot potential problems coming down the tracks.
The Partygate saga further undermined his authority as the string of bashes and subsequent fallout took place on his watch.
Sue Gray’s report said he oversaw a workplace where staff were afraid to speak out, leading to “failures of leadership”.
He was heavily touted for the chop as part of the expected clearout of top staff, and last night was confirmed to have quit.
The keen cyclist was pictured leaving Downing Street in his usual lycra kit.
MUNIRA MIRZA – HEAD OF POLICY
The shock resignation of Munira Mirza is the biggest blow to the PM of all those to have quit.
Not only was it totally unexpected, but she is one of the PM’s longest serving and closest lieutenants.
Mirza, 44, was part of Johnson’s top team as Mayor of London and followed him into Downing Street as head of the No10 policy unit.
In an interview he once named her among his top five most inspiring women.
Uninvolved in the Partygate storm, Mirza was not among those touted to be part of the No10 exodus.
But yesterday she walked out with a stinging rebuke to her boss for using a slur about Jimmy Savile to attack Sir Keir Starmer.
She said: “You are a better man than many of your detractors will ever understand, which is why it is so desperately sad that you let yourself down by making a scurrilous accusation against the leader of the opposition.”
Her bolt from the blue brought forward the rest of the resignations last night.
MARTIN REYNOLDS – TOP CIVIL SERVANT
Martin Reynolds has been forced out as a direct result of Partygate after organising the notorious “BYOB” bash in the No10 garden.
He was mercilessly nicknamed “Party Marty” for inviting 100 Downing St staff to “socially distanced drinks”.
Reynolds was well-liked by the PM, who appointed him principal private secretary in October 2019 and fought to keep him.
But he was high up the list of likely candidates for culling and yesterday it was confirmed he would be returning to the Foreign Office.
He is the only civil servant, rather than political aide, to quit over the saga so far.
JACK DOYLE – HEAD OF COMMS
A former political journalist who went into Downing Street in 2020, Jack Doyle was in charge of getting out the Government’s message.
As well as overseeing the chaotic comms campaign during the Partygate storm, he was also dragged into some of the gatherings – reportedly giving out prizes at boozy end-of-week drinks sessions.
Last night Doyle told colleagues he was leaving after the saga had taken a “terrible toll” on his family life, and that he had only intended to serve two years in No10.
ELENA NAROZANSKI – POLICY AIDE
A relatively unknown aide who works in the Policy Unit, Elena Narozanski was this morning said to have quit.
She is very close to Mirza and her resignation is believed to be linked to her boss’ departure.
Narozanski, a keen boxer, is very well respected across Westminster as a fiercely bright operator.
