One of the most senior officials responsible for reshaping government communications under Sir Keir Starmer is to leave Whitehall following Andy Burnham's arrival in Downing Street.
David Dinsmore will stand down as Permanent Secretary and Director of Communications on 30 September, the Cabinet Office has announced.
The Government said the departure was by mutual agreement and explicitly linked the timing to the change of Prime Minister and administration.
Dinsmore, a former editor of The Sun and former chief operating officer of News UK, was appointed in November 2025 to lead a major reform programme across government communications.
Dinsmore to leave on 30 September
The Cabinet Office confirmed on 26 August that Dinsmore will leave his role at the end of September.
Its announcement said that following the change of Prime Minister and administration, Dinsmore and First Secretary of State Louise Haigh had agreed that this was an appropriate point to hand over leadership of the programme.
The wording gives the departure a clear change-of-government context, although the official statement does not say that Dinsmore was dismissed.
The move should therefore be described as a mutually agreed departure rather than a sacking unless further evidence emerges.
Starmer-era communications overhaul
Dinsmore joined the Cabinet Office in November 2025 during Sir Keir Starmer's premiership.
He was appointed at permanent secretary level to transform how the UK Government communicates and to lead the Government Communications profession across departments and public bodies.
During his tenure, a new Government Communications strategy was developed and a Strategy Unit established alongside the Government Media Unit.
The Cabinet Office said the reforms had laid the foundations for the next phase of implementation.
Former Sun editor brought into Whitehall
Before joining the Civil Service, Dinsmore spent decades in the media industry.
He served as editor of The Sun between 2013 and 2015 and editor of The Scottish Sun between 2006 and 2010.
He subsequently became chief operating officer of News UK, whose titles and brands include The Sun, The Times, The Sunday Times, talkSPORT and Virgin Radio.
He also previously chaired the News Media Association and Newsworks.
Departure follows Burnham's arrival in Downing Street
Andy Burnham became Prime Minister on 20 July after being elected Labour leader four days earlier, succeeding Starmer.
Louise Haigh was appointed First Secretary of State, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office as part of Burnham's new administration.
Dinsmore's departure therefore comes little more than two months after the change at the top of Government and less than a year after he entered Whitehall.
The Cabinet Office's decision to refer directly to the change of Prime Minister and administration makes the political transition an explicit part of the explanation for the timing.
Cabinet Secretary praises Dinsmore's work
Cabinet Secretary Dame Antonia Romeo praised Dinsmore's work, saying he had established the strategy, structures and capabilities required for lasting change in government communications.
Dinsmore said government communications was moving from strategic design into implementation and expressed confidence in the civil servants who would take the programme forward.
The Government has not announced in the departure statement who will permanently succeed him.
The change leaves the Burnham administration with an opportunity to put its own stamp on the communications operation at the centre of Whitehall as the reforms move into their implementation phase.