Questions raised over third role for No. 10’s new chief of staff

The Prime Minister announced yesterday that Steve Barclay, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, would become his chief of staff.

This has raised questions over how Mr Barclay will balance this full-time role with his responsibilities as a constituency MP and position as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Gavin Barwell, who was chief of staff to Theresa May, said it “won’t be easy to combine being chief of staff with a minister and MP”.

Nick Timothy, who was also chief of staff to Ms May, tweeted: “Barclay is very talented, but not sure having a chief of staff who’s also a minister elsewhere can work”.

Jonathan Powell, who a chief of staff under Tony Blair, tweeted: “Does he resign as an MP? Or is he answerable to Parliament? I can think of no democracy where the chief of staff can also be in the legislature”.