Sam White
Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Opposition
In office
September 2021 – October 2022
LeaderKeir Starmer
Preceded byMorgan McSweeney
Succeeded bySue Gray (2023)
Personal details
BornSeptember 1974
NationalityBritish
Parent
OccupationPolitical adviser

Sam White (born 1975 or 1976) is a British political adviser. He is best known as Chief of Staff to Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer during the period Labour gained a substantive poll lead (September 2021 to November 2022).

Early life

White was born in 1974.[1] His father is the journalist Michael White.[2]

Career

White worked for the politician Alistair Darling from 2004 to 2010, including as a special adviser in HM Treasury. He also worked at the Government trade department and transport department.[1]

From 2010 to 2021, White was group sustainability and public policy director at Aviva, where he oversaw Aviva's Net Zero carbon plans.[3] In this role White was a vocal advocate of paternity leave.[4]

White was Strategic Adviser to Keir Starmer,[3] supporting his transition to Leader of the Opposition in 2020[1] and running his response to the COVID-19 pandemic from April to August 2020.[3] White was appointed Chief of Staff to Starmer in July 2021, taking up the role in September.[1]

White was hired by Starmer following a period of intense criticism of Starmer's operation, having lost the Hartlepool by-election, a "botched" reshuffle and having fallen behind in the polls.[5] At the time of his appointment, Conservative Party adviser James Dowling, who had worked with White at the Treasury, described him as "an approachable, easy-going manner which helps build relationships and loyalty among those he works with, combined with a certain ruthlessness and ability to get things done".[6] White's style in the role was described as hands-on. One person attending White's first face-to-face meeting with advisers briefed Politico "White had presented a clear and coherent message for the upcoming party conference. In the space of an hour there you had much more hands-on involvement".[7] While in the role, White was documented as clashing with Shadow Cabinet member Lisa Nandy over her attending a picket line in August 2022.[8]

White left the role in November 2022. The nature of his departure is contested. An anonymous briefing to The Times claimed White was "blamed for a series of strategic missteps that enraged the Shadow Cabinet and fomented an atmosphere of tension and distrust belied by Labour's success in the polls". This version of events is not supported by those close to the decision. Speaking about White’s departure, Starmer said, "Sam has played an incredible role taking our operation to the next level. Under his leadership the team has become better and stronger.[9] He's hired some outstanding people and leaves behind a powerful legacy. A great deal of what's been achieved over the last year wouldn't have happened without him. I want to thank him for his frank advice, unstinting loyalty and all his support to me during some challenging times. With the merger, running the Leader's Office becomes a smaller role than Sam signed up for and we both agree as we're making this change, now is the right time to go. I hope we'll work together again in the future."[10]

As White left this role, Starmer told staff that White's departure was a result of policy and communications teams moving from Starmer's office to party headquarters, leaving a smaller role than White has signed up for.[10] The Times said that, according to White's internal critics, "his style was defined by an excess of caution that too often prevented Starmer from seizing the initiative".[11] Labour said White was departing on amicable terms.[12] Speaking about his departure White said he and Starmer part "very much as friends with the intent to work together again in the future".[10]

In the period White was in charge of Starmer's operation, Labour succeeded in overturning a large Conservative poll lead to pull 35% ahead by the time he left the role.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Chappell, Elliot (11 October 2022). "Chief of staff leaves amid restructuring to put Labour on "election footing"". LabourList. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  2. ^ Rodgers, Sienna (6 May 2020). "What does the new leader's office say about Keir Starmer?". LabourList. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Sam White, Special Adviser". PolicyMogul. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  4. ^ "64. SHARING AND CARING: the case for paternity leave". Reasons to be Cheerful with Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd (Podcast). 10 December 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  5. ^ Stewart, Heather; Elgot, Jessica (22 June 2021). "Keir Starmer set to make major changes to Labour backroom team". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  6. ^ Dowling, James (29 July 2021). "Keir Starmer's new chief of staff has the political skill to reboot the Labour Party". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Keir Starmer, mystery man". POLITICO. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  8. ^ Elgot, Jessica (1 August 2022). "Labour facing 'breakdown in discipline' as Nandy visits picket line". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  9. ^ Chappell, Elliot. "Chief of staff leaves amid restructuring to put Labour on "election footing"". LabourList. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  10. ^ a b c "Labour Party statement October 2022, quoted in various news outlets; archived in full". LinkedIn. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  11. ^ Zeffman, Henry; Wright, Oliver; Maguire, Patrick (11 October 2022). "Keir Starmer sacks chief of staff to put Labour in general election mode". The Times. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  12. ^ Elgot, Jessica; Crerar, Pippa (11 October 2022). "Keir Starmer axes chief of staff to put Labour on 'election footing'". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Voting Intention: Con 25%, Labour 47% (28 Feb-1 March 2023)". YouGov. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
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