Downing Street Director of Communications


The Downing Street Director of Communications is the post of Director of Communications for the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The position is held by an appointed special adviser. The post was temporarily vacant from April to July 2017 following the resignation of the former Director of Communications Katie Perrior. The current Director of Communications is Lee Cain who was appointed by Boris Johnson on 24 July 2019.

History

The position of Downing Street Director of Communications was created in 2000. The first holder of the position was Alastair Campbell who had previously served as Downing Street Press Secretary and Prime Minister's Spokesman. The position had the power to issue orders to civil servants, which was removed after Campbell's departure in 2003.

In culture

In television series The Thick of It, the Downing Street Director of Communications was portrayed by actor Peter Capaldi playing the now infamous Malcolm Tucker. Former special advisors and civil servants were called upon to make the series as close-to-reality as possible. In 2009 Capaldi stated 'Malcolm Tucker is Alastair Campbell. But Mandelson is there, too.'

List of Directors of Communications