Rishi Sunak has hired the Spectator’s political editor, James Forsyth, as his political secretary.

The move comes as the PM continues bolster his top team in Downing Street in the hope of overturning recent negative polling results for the Conservative Party.

It is understood that Mr Forsyth’s role will be to act as a link between Mr Sunak, the policy unit and the party.

The appointment is a political one with no cost to taxpayers.

Mr Forsyth is a close friend of Mr Sunak and served as his best man at the prime minister’s wedding.

The former political editor is also married to Allegra Stratton – who resigned from her post as the government’s spokesperson for the COP26 climate summit over the partygate scandal under former prime minister Boris Johnson.

It came after footage emerged of her joking about a party at Downing Street during the peak of lockdown rules in December 2020.

In a statement delivered in front of her home, Ms Stratton said she deeply regretted joking with other Number 10 aides during a rehearsal for a later-dropped plan for filmed Downing Street press conferences.

“The British people have made immense sacrifices in the battle against COVID-19. I now fear that my comments in the leaked video of 20 December may have become a distraction against that fight,” she said.

“My remarks seemed to make light of the rules, rules that people were doing everything to obey. That was never my intention. I will regret those remarks for the rest of my days and offer my profound apologies to all of you for them.”

It is understood that both the Conservatives and Labour are solidifying their operations ahead of the next general election – which must occur no later than January 2025.

Mr Forsyth will step down as political editor at the Spectator to take up his new Downing Street role.