Harri in a hurry to get his next gig

Every revolution has its casualties and the Truss takeover was no exception. With a new PM comes new courtiers, and No. 10 has duly witnessed a clear-out of staff from Boris Johnson’s ancien régime . And while the fallen king contents himself post-premiership with his long-awaited Shakespeare tome, other members of his court must find new ways to enrich themselves. Among them is Guto Harri, the spin doctor supreme whose greatest hits in Downing Street include claiming his boss wasn’t a ‘complete clown’ and likening Chris Pincher to Dr David Kelly.

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So after a glorious seven month spell in government, where next for the comms guru? It seems that Harri is in a hurry to make a quick bob or two. For just three weeks after leaving No. 10, Harri is now being touted on the after-dinner circuit, joining up with the likes of Gavin Williamson and Jeremy Hunt at Chartwell Speakers. His profile is already listed online and makes for amusing reading. Among his speaker categories include ‘leadership’ and ‘security’; quite the irony given that:

As Director of Comms, he oversaw the response to the police investigation into “partygate” the Sue Gray inquiry, a vote of no confidence and ultimate implosion of the cabinet which led to the PM’s  downfall.  

Talk about learning from the best. It also boasts that ‘Guto listened in on the intimate calls between Boris Johnson and President Zelensky’ – what a model of discretion. Harri has ‘stories that will astonish and entertain’ and is now offering ‘insights on the new PM and her key lieutenants’: presumably he isn’t expecting a return to government any time soon. As a former senior special adviser, he will be required to consult Acoba before taking up any appointments or employment in the two years after leaving Downing Street: let’s hope he hasn’t started taking commissions yet.

After all, who else knows better about ‘the strengths and failures of our system’ than Harri?