Sir Keir Starmer is resisting growing calls from Labour MPs and ministers to sack his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, following an alleged orchestrated briefing campaign against Health Secretary Wes Streeting. The Prime Minister told MPs at the party's backbench committee on Wednesday that he would not sack McSweeney or take action against the briefers, prompting one MP to say he had "lost the dressing room".
Labour MPs have blamed McSweeney for the fallout, which stemmed from what was described as an extraordinary briefing operation designed to warn potential leadership contenders. The health secretary, however, appeared emboldened by the row, delivering a strong media performance that some MPs said had strengthened any future leadership bid.
Downing Street was forced to clarify Starmer's position after he dodged a question on whether he had full confidence in McSweeney at Prime Minister's Questions. Labour chair Anna Turley later told ITV there would be an investigation into who briefed against Streeting, with action promised against the culprit — a commitment the PM had not made earlier.
Starmer and Streeting spoke briefly on Wednesday for the first time since the row erupted, with the Prime Minister reportedly apologising but stopping short of further commitments. One No 10 source said Starmer's anger was still focused on Streeting, despite outwardly praising him, while another said he was frustrated by the health secretary's opposition on issues such as welfare, digital ID and Gaza.
Several cabinet sources expressed the view that McSweeney may have to go. One minister said: "Morgan will have to go. But it won't save Keir." Another added: "Consensus is forming in cabinet he'll have to go." Trade minister Chris Bryant described the situation as "a bit daft if you have someone in the coach's team hobbling one of the players before the match".
