ALLEGRA Stratton, a former national editor of ITV News, will be the new face of Downing Street, reports say.
In April 2020, she quit ITV News to become Chancellor Rishi Sunak's director of strategic communications at the Treasury.
Stratton, who is married to the political editor of the right-wing Spectator magazine, will lead No 10's new daily televised press briefings, according to the BBC.
The daily updates, similar to the format used by the White House in the United States, are expected to start next month.
The role is a political appointment by the Conservative Party.
As opposed to an impartial civil servant, the politically-appointed special adviser will be able to take aim at opponents and defend the Government's actions.
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Unlike other influential figures in Downing Street, such as Johnson's chief aide Dominic Cummings and communications director Lee Cain, the spokeswoman will operate in the public eye.
Cummings' wife, Mary Wakefield, is the commissioning editor of the Spectator. Stratton's appointment heralds even deeper ties between Downing Street and the right-wing magazine.
Stratton describes herself as Robert Peston's "sidekick" on Twitter, presumably because she co-presented Peston on Sunday from 2016 till 2018.
The new Downing Street spokesperson has authored one book, Muhajababes. Covering her travels in the Middle East, it was released in 2006 to middling reviews.
She attended Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, London. A private school which charges fees of £21,000 a year per student.
Stratton has reportedly long been a favourite for the new role, with Downing Street having been impressed by her abilities.
Boris Johnson has said the briefings will allow the public more "direct engagement" with his government after Westminster scrapped its daily briefings on June 23.
Under proposals set out earlier this year, Stratton will face the cameras at 9 Downing Street during afternoon sessions.
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The political reporters based in Parliament - known as the lobby - currently have twice daily briefings with the Prime Minister's official spokesman, or his deputy. They are both civil servants.
The briefings are on the record, so journalists can quote them, but they are not broadcast.
Downing Street said ministers would make regular appearances at the briefings to be led by Stratton.
In July, No 10 began the search for someone to "communicate with the nation on behalf of the Prime Minister".
The job advert said the salary would be "based on experience" but there have been suggestions the taxpayer-funded role could pay £100,000 a year.
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