Sam White (political adviser)

Sam White (born 1976 (age 46)) 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. His father is the journalist Michael White.

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.

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

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

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. 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". 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". While in the role, White was documented as clashing with Shadow Cabinet member Lisa Nandy over her attending a picket line in August 2022.

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. 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."

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. 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". Labour said White was departing on amicable terms. Speaking about his departure White said he and Starmer part "very much as friends with the intent to work together again in the future".

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.