Downing Street Chief of Staff

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The Downing Street chief of staff is the most senior political appointee in the Office of the prime minister of the United Kingdom, acting as a senior aide to the prime minister. The chief of staff holds a highly powerful, non-ministerial position within His Majesty's Government. The role of chief of staff initially had executive authority, vested by the prime minister, and at the time of its inception, was referred to as the most powerful unelected official in the UK and possibly ranked third in government, after the prime minister and the chancellor of the exchequer. Since 2007, the role does not have legal or executive authority, although the post holder remains, by definition, the senior adviser to the prime minister, and controls access to the prime minister and their staff. From 1997 to 2019, and from November 2020, the title of chief of staff has been held by the most senior special adviser at Downing Street. Steve Barclay, the Member of Parliament for North East Cambridgeshire...

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