Keir Starmer replaces Seumas Milne with new director of communications

Former Labour Strategy and Communications Director Seumas Milne leaves Islington Town Hall following the party's defeat in the 2019 general election. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) 2019 Getty Images

Jeremy Corbyn’s director of communications, Seumas Milne, has left his post within the leader’s office and has been replaced.

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Milne, a former Guardian journalist, endorsed Corbyn as Labour leader before becoming Executive Director of Strategy and Communications after the Labour leader was elected in 2015.

He was originally hired on a one-year contract but went on to remain within the leader’s office to oversee two general election defeats.

His appointment was criticised by those within the party who felt that Corbyn could have picked “someone whose skills in media management were better known than his personal political views”.

MORE: How Seumas Milne quietly became Labour’s power player

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Milne confirmed over the weekend he was no longer required by new leader Starmer as his contract was tied to Jeremy Corbyn’s tenure as leader, and his personal spokesman during the leadership contest, Ben Nunn, has been given the role.

Nunn’s background includes spending three years at MHP Communications, working for Labour’s health team, and working as a political adviser for Starmer when he was the shadow Brexit secretary.

A former Labour staffer told PR Week: “This is a really good appointment. Ben is hugely capable, easy to work with and straight with people – there’s a lot to be said in politics for being nice.”