Brown’s closest adviser quits beleaguered Number 10

As another poll gives the Conservatives a clear margin over Labour - this time it's a 13-point lead in a Guardian/ICM poll published today - the public's loss of faith in Brown and Darling to manage the economy is not helping create calm at Number 10.

Gordon Brown's closest adviser for a decade, Spencer Livermore, has announced he is leaving Downing Street for Saatchi and Saatchi amid rumours he was eased out by Stephen Carter, the new head of Brown's political strategy. Now the question is, who's next for the exit door?

Brown is said to have spent weeks trying to persuade Livermore not to leave. But Livermore has had enough of Carter, not to mention being so upset by one of Brown's tirades that he is said to have been in tears.

Amid these signs of an unhappy ship, rumours are rife around Whitehall that Carter has given the black spot to former union official Ian Austin, Brown's Brummie Parliamentary bag carrier.

It is denied by Carter but Austin is expected to be 'promoted' to a junior ministerial post in the next reshuffle to remove him from Downing Street.

Damian McBride, the Prime Minister's burly special adviser, is being reinforced in his spin doctoring by new 'communications specialists' appointed by Carter.

Such changes would be expected after a general election, or ten years in power, but Brown has had less than a year in office and had already lost his chief of staff, Tom Scholar, who disappeared back to the Treasury soon after Carter arrived. Signs are that Carter is throwing his weight around in desperation to get a grip. Others are thinking rats and sinking ships.

THE MOLE: ECONOMIC CRISIS

FIRST POSTED MARCH 18, 2008