Political Editor for the Daily Telegraph, Ben Riley-Smith, posted an exclusive to X this morning to announce that former editor of The Sun, David Dinsmore, has been hired by Keir Starmer.
Mr Riley-Smith posted:
Exclusive: Keir Starmer has hired a former editor of The Sun to one of the most senior government communications roles.
David Dinsmore has won the race for the newly created position of permanent secretary for communications.
As you might imagine, there is some controversy surrounding Keir Starmer's decision to appoint David Dinsmore. The backlash primarily stems from Dinsmore’s association with The Sun, a tabloid widely boycotted in Liverpool due to its coverage of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which many residents and Labour supporters view as deeply offensive and misleading.
Keir Starmer's appointment of Mr Dinsmore comes at a time when Ian Byrne MP is pushing Keir Starmer to honour his promise of introducing the Hillsborough Law.
In September 2022, at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Keir Starmer promised that a Labour government would prioritise the Hillsborough Law to support the families of the 97 victims of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside Kim Johnson has reacted angrily to the appointment, posting to X:
An insult to Hillsborough families & campaigners. A betrayal of Liverpool.
Starmer promised he wouldn’t engage with The Scum paper - now he hires its former editor.
And all while talks on the Hillsborough Law continue. Clear disregard for our city & its people.
https://twitter.com/benrileysmith/status/1949030714306912446
https://twitter.com/KimJohnsonMP/status/1949091117812584534
