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| Rishi Sunak hires ITV's Amber de Botton as communications chief | Rishi Sunak hires ITV's Amber de Botton as communications chief |
| (about 5 hours 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" and "leaves a huge hole at ITV News". | Mr Peston tweeted that she is "a brilliant news editor and journalist" and "leaves a huge hole at ITV News". |
| The director of communications for No 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. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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 ITV published a video laughing at how to describe a Downing Street staff party held during a period of pandemic restrictions. | Ms Stratton later resigned after ITV published a video laughing at how to describe a Downing Street staff party held during a period of pandemic restrictions. |
| Salaries for the role can vary. Ex-BBC correspondent Guto Harri, Downing Street director of communications under Boris Johnson in 2022, received £140,000 to £144,999 annually for the role. | Salaries for the role can vary. Ex-BBC correspondent Guto Harri, Downing Street director of communications under Boris Johnson in 2022, received £140,000 to £144,999 annually for the role. |
| While Adam Jones, Liz Truss's director of communications, was on a £80,000 to £84,999 salary during her short time in office as prime minister, figures showed. | While Adam Jones, Liz Truss's director of communications, was on a £80,000 to £84,999 salary during her short time in office as prime minister, figures showed. |
| 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 |