Sir Keir Starmer has been issued a stark warning from one of Labour's most experienced figures: get control of Number 10 or risk paving the way for Nigel Farage to take power.
The intervention from Tony Blair's former communications chief, Alastair Campbell, comes amid a turbulent week for the Prime Minister, who faces mounting pressure to sack his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney.
A Withering Attack from Within
In a devastating assessment delivered on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Campbell did not hold back. He stated that the Labour Party's strategy 'isn't going very well' and that public backing for the Prime Minister was 'draining away' at an alarming rate.
He criticised the government for having 'no compiling narrative' and for scoring 'too many own goals.' The most damning part of his critique was the comparison to the previous Conservative administration. 'The worst thing about recent days,' Campbell said, 'is it's made a relatively new government look like the last lot.'
The Farage Threat and Internal 'Frenzy'
Mr Campbell pointed to a significant external threat emerging from the government's internal disarray. He explicitly warned about the danger posed by Nigel Farage, stating that if the Labour Party is not careful, Farage could 'come in and take over this country and take it to a very dark place.'
He attributed part of the problem to a media culture that prioritises scandal over policy, but he also laid blame at the door of those in politics who 'feed the frenzy rather than just get on with governing.' This internal briefing culture was thrown into sharp relief by reports that the Prime Minister had to apologise to his Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, after a damaging briefing operation against him originated from within Downing Street.
Pressure on McSweeney and Starmer's Response
The claims that sources suggested Mr Streeting was preparing a leadership coup have led to direct calls for Sir Keir to dismiss his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney. While not calling for his head directly, Mr Campbell offered pointed advice, stating that McSweeney needed to understand that 'governing and campaigning are not the same thing.'
He emphasised that everyone in Number 10 should be focused on serving the Prime Minister and the government, not on their own strategic thoughts.
Elsewhere, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband weighed in on the debacle. He confirmed that Sir Keir Starmer would sack the person responsible for the briefings if they were identified. 'I've talked to Keir before about this kind of briefing that happens,' Mr Miliband told Sky News. 'As he always says, if he finds the person, he'll get rid of them, and I absolutely believe he would do that.'
Mr Miliband downplayed the crisis as part of the 'DNA of being in government,' but his message to the party was clear: 'we need to focus on the country, not ourselves.'
Ultimately, Alastair Campbell framed the situation in terms of reputation, noting that everyone in public life has a 'reputational bank and the currency flows in and out.' His conclusion was that for Sir Keir Starmer, 'something has gone dreadfully wrong that so much has drained just a little over the year in government.' The warning from Labour's past is clear: the time to get a grip is now.
