Damian McBride

Last updated

Chris Mullin. Decline and Fall: Diaries 2005-2010.</ref> The affair was also part of the reason Alice Mahon resigned form the Labour Party a week later. [18]

Post Downing Street

Following his resignation from Downing Street, McBride applied for the post of Business Liaison Officer at his former school, Finchley Catholic High School, and started work there in July 2009. [19] In 2011, he became head of media at the charity CAFOD. [20]

In 2013, McBride's book, Power Trip: A Decade of Policy, Plots and Spin , was published. [20] McBride offered royalties from the book to CAFOD, but after consulting "the wider Catholic community" CAFOD's trustees and management declined the offer. McBride stated his intention to donate all royalties to "good causes." [21]

Return to Labour

In 2015, he returned to a senior role in the Labour party as Shadow Defence Secretary Emily Thornberry's media adviser. [22]

In September 2017, the political commentator Iain Dale placed McBride at Number 95 on his list of the '100 most influential people on the Left', on the grounds that "McBride more than anyone has helped Emily Thornberry to rise up this chart this year." [23]

After the 2024 election he was appointed special adviser to Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary and wife of his former Treasury colleague Ed Balls, specialising in fraud policy. [24]

Personal life

McBride is a fan of Arsenal and Celtic football clubs. He is also a regular pub quiz competitor. [4] [25]

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Damian McBride
Downing Street Press Secretary
In office
2007–2009
Government offices
Preceded by
Tom Kelly
Downing Street Press Secretary
2007–2009
Succeeded by