Starmer’s Comms Chief Behind Gagging Order On Military Top Brass – Guido Fawkes

EXC: Starmer’s Comms Chief Behind Gagging Order On Military Top Brass

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A major rift between the MoD and Downing Street has blown open today as defence figures are unable to go on record at a major RUSI conference. The latest development in a tense cold war between the two departments…

Guido hears from multiple high level defence sources that the gagging order was delivered directly from Downing Street under the direction of strategic communications boss James Lyons. Insiders say that the MoD’s communications chief Simon Enright has “completely lost the fight with Lyons” – now the MOD has had its marching orders from Downing Street. The MOD permanent secretary David Williams has stayed quiet internally, sources say – offering no communication on the new and unprecedented gagging order. The position is unsustainable as senior chain of command figures have always had freedom to voice their views in public, unrestricted by politicians, it’s a good thing for defence…

There was a bitter briefing exchange after Starmer declined to set out a path to 3% spending on defence – this is an element of the fallout. Will end in fireworks…