Westminster Power Couples — 2026 edition – POLITICO

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35. Craig Saunders and Louise Berwick 

A top civil service power couple. Louise Berwick manages communications on foreign affairs and defense in Downing Street. Her husband, Craig Saunders, is midway through moving from a top Home Office comms job to be head of news and media at the Treasury.

36. Luke Tryl and Dharmesh Nayee

Luke Tryl has become one of Westminster’s most recognized commentators. His More in Common think tank — which pumps out polls and conducts regular focus groups — offers SW1 colorful insight into what the “normal people” actually care about. His partner is Dharmesh Nayee, a senior Treasury civil servant, who worked on the 2025 budget.

37. Luke Murphy and Paul McNamee 

Basingstoke MP Luke Murphy is a key Labour voice on net zero. Behind the scenes, so is his partner Paul McNamee, director of the green campaign group the Labour Climate and Environment Forum (LCEF). Murphy chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Climate and sits on the Treasury committee. Under McNamee, LCEF’s events have become diary dates for anyone who wants to know what Labour’s Milibandite climate caucus is thinking. 

38. Hollie Ridley and Teddy Ryan

Labour General Secretary Hollie Ridley is the highest-ranked member of the party’s internal structure. Her husband Teddy Ryan is a big name in public affairs — he runs lobbying firm Anacta’s U.K. operation, once dubbed the “Starmerite lobbying firm.”

39. Zarah Sultana and Craig Lloyd

Independent MP Zarah Sultana is co-founder of the left-wing upstart Your Party — a hotbed of political drama since its launch last July. Her husband Craig Lloyd, a former policy officer for the Fire Brigades Union, was an adviser on her campaign to lead the new political movement.

40. Suella and Rael Braverman 

Former Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman is back in the headlines after dramatically defecting to Reform UK (following colleagues Robert Jenrick and Andrew Rosindell). Her husband, Rael, rejoined Nigel Farage’s party when his wife joined. He’s been a bit on-and-off with Reform UK, having joined in December ’24, then leaving in July ’25 after public attacks on Braverman. Love mends all.