New No 10 comms unit revealed, led by former Sadiq Khan’s media director Sarah Brown

Mace | 28th July 2026 | Moves

Led by Sarah Brown, former head of comms for Sadiq Khan, Andy Burnham's new Downing Street media operation will be “agile, media-savvy, and unflinchingly clear on its narrative” according to insiders.

Sarah Brown, who has spent the past decade handling communications for Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has been brought in as Downing Street’s director of communications, according to a No. 10 source. Brown was a Labour Party press officer before being appointed Khan’s deputy mayoral director of communications in 2016. She was promoted to mayoral director of communications when Patrick Hennessy stepped down from the role in 2021. Grace Pritchard, a former special adviser to Ed Miliband who ran communications for Burnham during the Makerfield campaign, has been appointed director of news and the prime minister’s political spokesperson. During his speech following the Makerfield by-election, Burnham singled out Pritchard as being “absolutely brilliant”. Before becoming Miliband’s special adviser last October, Pritchard worked on regional communications for the Labour Party after a brief stint as senior communications manager for Yvette Cooper MP. She previously spent three years working...

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.

PA director leaves Meta to pursue academic career

Mace | August 18, 2026

Miguel Head is returning to London to begin a master’s programme

FGS Global acquires government affairs agency

Mace | August 14, 2026

The deal brings Rich Feuer Anderson’s advocacy expertise and regulatory access together with FGS Global’s focus on strategic communications, transaction advisory and crisis management.

Crisis Scotland hires ex-Lib Dem housing spokesperson

Mace | August 14, 2026

Paul McGarry has been appointed media and public affairs manager at Crisis Scotland, having just started in his new role.

Karoline Leavitt to step down from White House role

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | August 14, 2026

The press secretary will be leaving her post at the end of the month

Green Party leader recruits new comms advisor

Mace | August 4, 2026

Zack Polanski has drafted in a new advisor from a former party co-leader.

Leader in Public Affairs: Grace Pritchard, Downing Street Director of News and the Prime Minister’s Political Spokesperson

Mace | August 3, 2026

After heading the Makerfield by-election comms team, Grace Pritchard was singled out by Andy Burnham as being a key part of his northern campaign team. The self-styled 'Yorkshire