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| Rishi Sunak hires ITV's Amber de Botton as communications chief | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has chosen ITV News journalist Amber de Botton as his new director of communications. | Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has chosen ITV News journalist Amber de Botton as his new director of communications. |
| She will leave the broadcaster, where she is head of UK news, to run Downing Street's media operation. | She will leave the broadcaster, where she is head of UK news, to run Downing Street's media operation. |
| Downing Street confirmed the hire after ITV's political editor Robert Peston revealed his colleague would be joining the prime minister's team. | Downing Street confirmed the hire after ITV's political editor Robert Peston revealed his colleague would be joining the prime minister's team. |
| It comes as removal vans were spotted in Downing Street on Saturday as Mr Sunak and his family moved into No 10. | It comes as removal vans were spotted in Downing Street on Saturday as Mr Sunak and his family moved into No 10. |
| The prime minister, along with his wife and two daughters, previously lived in the flat above No 10 when he was chancellor under Boris Johnson. | The prime minister, along with his wife and two daughters, previously lived in the flat above No 10 when he was chancellor under Boris Johnson. |
| Rishi Sunak and family return to No 10 flat | Rishi Sunak and family return to No 10 flat |
| The millionaire fashion designer moving into No 10 | The millionaire fashion designer moving into No 10 |
| Ms De Botton was previously head of politics at ITV and deputy head of politics at Sky news, after starting her career as a parliamentary reporter. | Ms De Botton was previously head of politics at ITV and deputy head of politics at Sky news, after starting her career as a parliamentary reporter. |
| She will be a special advisor, responsible for selling the merits of the government. | She will be a special advisor, responsible for selling the merits of the government. |
| Mr Peston tweeted that she is "a brilliant news editor and journalist" "leaves a huge hole at ITV News". | Mr Peston tweeted that she is "a brilliant news editor and journalist" "leaves a huge hole at ITV News". |
| The director of communications for Number 10 is a crucial role at the heart of government. | The director of communications for Number 10 is a crucial role at the heart of government. |
| Part of an inner circle of close advisers, Amber de Botton will have direct access to the prime minister and speak on his authority. | Part of an inner circle of close advisers, Amber de Botton will have direct access to the prime minister and speak on his authority. |
| The job will involve honing the government's message, briefing journalists and limiting the damage in a crisis. | The job will involve honing the government's message, briefing journalists and limiting the damage in a crisis. |
| The choice of a senior editor from broadcast news, highly praised by former colleagues, tells us the Sunak administration is serious about communication. | The choice of a senior editor from broadcast news, highly praised by former colleagues, tells us the Sunak administration is serious about communication. |
| Perhaps that is no surprise. Slick campaign videos and personalised social media posts show Mr Sunak is an image conscious politician not shy of building his brand. | Perhaps that is no surprise. Slick campaign videos and personalised social media posts show Mr Sunak is an image conscious politician not shy of building his brand. |
| But tax rises and spending cuts looming in the November budget could be a hard sell to voters, and communication will be key. | But tax rises and spending cuts looming in the November budget could be a hard sell to voters, and communication will be key. |
| The new prime minister has previously poached journalists from ITV. In 2020, the then-chancellor appointed the broadcaster's national editor Allegra Stratton as his director of strategic communications, before she was picked by Mr Johnson to lead No 10's daily televised press briefings. | The new prime minister has previously poached journalists from ITV. In 2020, the then-chancellor appointed the broadcaster's national editor Allegra Stratton as his director of strategic communications, before she was picked by Mr Johnson to lead No 10's daily televised press briefings. |
| Ms Stratton later resigned after an ITV video showed her days after Downing Street staff held a party during the pandemic, laughing over how to describe it. | Ms Stratton later resigned after an ITV video showed her days after Downing Street staff held a party during the pandemic, laughing over how to describe it. |
| A mattress is seen being moved through the famous door as Rishi Sunak and his family moves into a flat above No 10 | A mattress is seen being moved through the famous door as Rishi Sunak and his family moves into a flat above No 10 |
| Mr Sunak previously lived in the flat when he was chancellor, while Boris Johnson opted for the bigger flat above No 11 | Mr Sunak previously lived in the flat when he was chancellor, while Boris Johnson opted for the bigger flat above No 11 |
| Six months after leaving Downing Street when he resigned as chancellor in Mr Johnson's government, Mr Sunak and his family are returning to the flat above No 10. | Six months after leaving Downing Street when he resigned as chancellor in Mr Johnson's government, Mr Sunak and his family are returning to the flat above No 10. |
| Earlier this week his press secretary was asked why the prime minister was moving into No 10 and not the bigger No 11 apartment, officially designated for the chancellor but used by many prime minsters in recent years. She replied: "They were very happy there." | Earlier this week his press secretary was asked why the prime minister was moving into No 10 and not the bigger No 11 apartment, officially designated for the chancellor but used by many prime minsters in recent years. She replied: "They were very happy there." |
| She added she was not aware of any plans to redecorate the flat. | She added she was not aware of any plans to redecorate the flat. |
| Mr Johnson and his wife Carrie were reported to have spent as much as £200,000 on a designer upgrade of the No 11 apartment when they lived there. | Mr Johnson and his wife Carrie were reported to have spent as much as £200,000 on a designer upgrade of the No 11 apartment when they lived there. |
| The new prime minister is said to have been very happy in the flat when they lived there previously | The new prime minister is said to have been very happy in the flat when they lived there previously |
| FROM DEATH ROW TO A QUAINT VILLAGE: Inside Man starring Stanley Tucci and David Tennant | FROM DEATH ROW TO A QUAINT VILLAGE: Inside Man starring Stanley Tucci and David Tennant |
| SNOWFLAKE: Stewart Lee takes on cancel culture | SNOWFLAKE: Stewart Lee takes on cancel culture |