Downing Street Director of Communications

Downing Street Director of Communications
Incumbent
Craig Oliver

since February 2011
The Prime Minister's Office
First holder Alastair Campbell
Website 10 Downing Street

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 advisor. The current Director of Communications is Craig Oliver.

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.[1]

List of Directors of Communications

# Position holder Years Prime Minister
1 Alastair Campbell[2] 2000 – 2003 Tony Blair
2 David Hill[1] 2003 – 2007
3 Michael Ellam[3] 2007 – 2009 Gordon Brown
4 Simon Lewis[4][5] 2007 – 2009
5 Andy Coulson[6] 2010 – 2011 David Cameron
6 Craig Oliver[7] 2011 – present

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "No 10 press shake-up unveiled". BBC News Online. 3 September 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  2. "More power for Downing Street". BBC News Online. 22 June 2001. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  3. "Ellam to be Downing St spokesman". BBC News Online. 31 May 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  4. Treanor, Jill (16 September 2010). "Simon Lewis goes from PM's spokesman to banking lobbyist". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  5. "Communications Director Simon Lewis". Today. BBC Radio 4. 22 June 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  6. "David Cameron's PR director Andy Coulson paid £140,000". BBC News Online. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  7. "BBC's Craig Oliver replacing Andy Coulson at No 10". BBC News Online. 2 February 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
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