No 10 TEAM IN WAITING
BORIS JOHNSON has persuaded his right-hand man from City Hall days to stay with him as chief of staff in charge of a new administration at 10 Downing Street.
Sir Edward Lister, 69, was drafted in as head of a transition team but is now expected to serve about eight months or a year as Mr Johnson’s closest aide.
“He has slowly but surely had his arm twisted into it becoming fulltime,” said a source on the team.
Known as Steady Eddie, Sir Edward has held team-building meetings at the Johnson campaign HQ, a small townhouse near Smith Square, and in Parliament.
Sir Edward — who is on leave as chairman of Homes England, the quango tasked with boosting house construction — made his name during 19 years as leader of Margaret Thatcher’s favourite borough, Wandsworth.
Other key personnel expected to head into No 10 tomorrow include: ⬤ James Wild is set to be one of three deputy chiefs of staff. He is married to Natalie Evans, the Leader of the House of Lords. Mr Wild is currently a special adviser to Theresa May’s Remain-backing deputy David Lidington.
⬤ Liam Booth-Smith, another deputy to Lister, is a think tankie who drove housing policy as a top aide to Communities Secretary James Brokenshire. He will liaise over policy.
⬤ Ben Gascoigne, the third deputy, will be the “gatekeeper”, with control over who is granted valuable time in Mr Johnson’s crowded diary. ⬤ Lee Cain is expected to be director of communications. The former journalist served on the Vote Leave campaign and was Mr Johnson’s special adviser at the Foreign Office. ⬤ Nikki da Costa will be director of parliamentary affairs, a critical role given the lack of a Tory majority. She did the same job for Mrs May before resigning last autumn.
⬤ Rob Oxley, a Vote Leave veteran, is set to be press secretary, the political spokesman of the PM.
⬤ Oxley’s deputy will be Lucia Hodgson, a former special adviser to Brexiteer Andrea Leadsom. The teaming of the pair suggests plans for a Brexit-themed general election.
Also in the comms team will be Damon Poole, in charge of broadcasting, a Leave campaigner and account director at Brunswick, and Rosie Bate-Williams, handling regional media operations.
Shelley Williams-Walker, a former Foreign Office official, will be in charge of operations at No 10.
Richard Holden, an experienced special adviser, is among names being tipped for political secretary.
A senior role could go to Will Walden, one of Mr Johnson’s closest aides from his time as Mayor.