David Dinsmore to Exit UK Government Communications Role

Permanent secretary and director of communications David Dinsmore will leave his position overseeing UK government departments and public bodies by the end of September. The Cabinet Office announced the departure was by mutual agreement and follows the completion of a new social media communication strategy for ministers.

Dinsmore was appointed in November 2025 by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer to modernize government communications. His exit coincides with a broader reorganization of the top advisory team under Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo praised Dinsmore for establishing the strategy and capabilities required for lasting change in government communications.

While a government official denied that Dinsmore's former role as editor of the Sun newspaper influenced the move, sources suggest Prime Minister Burnham may have been uncomfortable with those ties. The tabloid remains unpopular in Liverpool and Manchester due to its coverage of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.