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Top Keir Starmer aide quits over sexually explicit messages about Diane Abbott
Paul Ovenden resigned as Keir Starmer's Director of Strategy after explicit 2017 messages about Diane Abbott surfaced, aiming to prevent distraction from government work.
- Paul Ovenden, Sir Keir Starmer's director of strategy, resigned on Monday after sexually explicit messages about MP Diane Abbott from 2017 emerged.
- Ovenden said he shared details of a silly private conversation as a junior press officer eight years ago and brought forward his resignation to avoid distraction.
- The messages were part of a large 2020 leak exposing Labour HQ’s internal conflicts, where Ovenden discussed sex acts involving Abbott with female colleagues.
- A Number 10 spokesperson called the messages "appalling and unacceptable," highlighting Abbott as a trailblazer facing horrendous abuse throughout her career.
- Ovenden’s departure adds pressure on Starmer, who faces mounting Labour criticism and speculation over his leadership ahead of May’s pivotal local elections.
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35 Articles
The third departure in ten days: An internal chat will show how Prime Minister Keir Starmer's strategy director made sexist remarks about a party colleague. As a consequence, he quits his post.
·Hamburg, Germany
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Strategy Director Paul Ovenden is said to have made derogatory and sexist statements to the party-internal opponent Starmers, Diane Abbott.
·Vienna, Austria
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suffers another setback: Strategy Director Paul Ovenden resigns due to sexist statements.
·Vienna, Austria
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Total News Sources35
Leaning Left14Leaning Right9Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 18%
R 32%
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