Prime Minister Keir Starmer has resisted demands to dismiss his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, following leaked briefings that suggested Health Secretary Wes Streeting could launch a leadership challenge. Starmer insisted he had been assured the leaks did not originate from Downing Street.
In a video call with senior staff on Thursday, Starmer stressed that “briefings against cabinet ministers are completely unacceptable,” according to his deputy spokesperson. The prime minister accepted assurances that no No 10 staff had briefed against Streeting, despite earlier reports that allies had expressed fears of a coup.
Starmer apologised to Streeting in a phone call on Wednesday, though the health secretary did not raise McSweeney’s name. Streeting dismissed the row as “yesterday’s news.” Some Labour MPs had called for McSweeney’s resignation, but one senior Labour source described him as “the great survivor.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves expressed confidence in McSweeney, stating there was “no evidence” of briefing against ministers. She suggested a leak inquiry could be held, but No 10 indicated Starmer had already accepted staff assurances. The prime minister warned of consequences for any future breaches of standards.
Cabinet ministers had privately called for McSweeney’s removal, but by Thursday several were prepared to move on. One senior MP noted that “the only person who has emerged well out of this is Wes Streeting.” Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said he believed Starmer would act against any staff found responsible for briefing.
