Prime Minister Keir Starmer has become the latest target of online satirists, who have released an artificial intelligence-generated video mocking his government's ongoing turmoil. The spoof depicts Starmer and his recently departed chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, clinging to a wooden plank in the icy Atlantic waters following the Titanic disaster.
Satirical Take on Political Crisis
The video, posted to social media platform X by the Crewkerne Gazette spoof site, arrives as the Labour government faces its most severe crisis since Starmer entered Downing Street eighteen months ago. The controversy centers on former ambassador Peter Mandelson, whose connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have triggered a political earthquake within Westminster.
McSweeney's Resignation Fallout
Morgan McSweeney resigned as the Prime Minister's chief of staff on Sunday, apologizing for his role in endorsing Mandelson as Britain's ambassador to the United States. In his resignation statement, the Irish political strategist admitted he was "wrong" in his judgment, marking a significant blow to Starmer's administration.
The AI-generated sketch cleverly references historical parallels, with Starmer telling McSweeney: "The Labour party has decided it was actually you who lost the keys to the binocular cabinet, Morgan." This alludes to the real Titanic tragedy where lookouts lacked binoculars after an officer accidentally kept the key.
Escalating Political Satire
This latest video continues a pattern of political satire from the Crewkerne Gazette, which previously targeted senior Labour figures including Angela Rayner, Rachel Reeves, and David Lammy. The anonymous creators behind the site describe themselves as "shadow creators" who maintain anonymity for security reasons.
In the Titanic parody, McSweeney protests his innocence before Starmer delivers the cutting response: "Perhaps, but that doesn't matter now. We'll re-write the history books." The scene concludes with McSweeney sinking beneath the waves as the camera reveals Lord Mandelson depicted as the iceberg responsible for the disaster.
Broader Context of Government Turmoil
McSweeney's departure represents the second chief of staff to leave Starmer's government within months, following Sue Gray's acrimonious exit in October 2024. The loss is particularly damaging as McSweeney was the architect of Labour's general election victory and played a crucial role in transforming the party after Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.
Starmer paid tribute to his outgoing aide, stating: "It's been an honour working with Morgan McSweeney for many years. He turned our party around after one of its worst ever defeats and played a central role running our election campaign." The Prime Minister added that both he and the Labour Party owed McSweeney "a debt of gratitude."
Leadership Speculation Intensifies
Political observers view McSweeney's resignation as a desperate attempt by Starmer to maintain his grip on power amid growing internal dissent. Speculation about potential leadership challenges has intensified, with former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner reportedly engaged in political "manoeuvres."
Other figures mentioned as possible replacements include Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Armed Forces minister Al Carns, and Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell. However, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham's leadership prospects appear diminished after Starmer's allies blocked his candidacy in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
Pattern of Political Mockery
The Titanic parody follows another recent Crewkerne Gazette production that featured Starmer singing a rewritten version of Barry Manilow's "Mandy," with lyrics referencing the Mandelson scandal. That video included the lines: "Oh, Mandy – well, you came and you lied without breaking, but I sent you away. Oh, Mandy – well, you leaked to Jeff and stopped me from shaking, and I need you today."
The Crewkerne Gazette describes itself as "the sharp end of Somerset – a politically incorrect, AI-fuelled, chaos-driven newcomer, where truth and satire dance together, like drunks at The White Hart," referencing a pub in the Somerset town where the creators first met as teenagers at Yeovil College.
As Starmer attempts to restore order within his government, these AI-generated satires highlight how digital technology has created new avenues for political commentary and public mockery of those in power. The videos demonstrate how historical analogies and popular culture references can be weaponized to critique contemporary political crises.
