Boris Johnson’s spin chief has resigned and become the second key aide to the prime minister to quit in a matter of hours.

Jack Doyle, Number 10’s director of communications, left his role and is reported to have told staff that recent weeks in Downing Street had “taken a terrible toll on my family life”.

News of his departure on Thursday came just hours after another of the prime minister’s top aides, Number 10 policy chief Munira Mirza, quit over Mr Johnson’s use of a discredited claim that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer personally failed to prosecute Jimmy Savile.

Further pressure was heaped on the prime minister over that row when Chancellor Rishi Sunak, widely touted as a potential successor to Mr Johnson, told reporters: “I wouldn’t have said it.”

Mr Doyle, a former journalist, joined Mr Johnson’s Downing Street team in early 2020 following the Conservatives’ general election victory.

He was recently caught up in the partygate scandal afflicting Number 10 when he was reported to have made a speech and handed out awards at an alleged Christmas party in Downing Street in December 2020.

As well as acknowledging the impact of a turbulent few weeks in Number 10 amid the emergence of multiple claims of lockdown breaking in Downing Street, Mr Doyle was also reported on Thursday to have told staff it had always been his intention to only serve in government for two years.

A Number 10 spokesperson said: “Jack Doyle has left government. He has made a huge contribution and the prime minister is immensely grateful for the work he has done.”

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