Sits vac Staff exodus leaves Number 10 ‘hollowed out’
An exodus of staff from Number 10 after the election failure has been blamed for the Prime Minister’s misjudged handling of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Sir Craig Oliver, who was director of communications for David Cameron, said the Downing Street operation was “hollowed out”.
Some senior figures are following Mrs May’s co-chiefs of staff Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill out of the door.
Will Tanner, deputy head of Number 10’s policy unit, and Chris Hopkins, a senior civil servant who liaised with businesses, are both understood to be leaving.
Gaps in the team also remain from aides who quit when the election was called to either run for Parliament or pursue careers in businesses.
Sir Craig told the BBC’s Today programme: “What you’ve got to look at in Number 10 is it’s almost hollowed out at the moment.
“A lot of people are on holiday.
“A number of jobs haven’t been filled. Advisers have gone.”
Ben Riley-Smith