Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure from Labour MPs and ministers to dismiss his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, following an alleged briefing operation against Health Secretary Wes Streeting. The row erupted after reports that No 10 orchestrated a campaign to undermine Streeting, who is seen as a potential leadership contender.
Starmer has told MPs he will not sack McSweeney, despite demands for consequences. At a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Wednesday, the prime minister refused to commit to taking action against those responsible for the briefings. One MP said Starmer had “lost the dressing room”.
The health secretary appeared emboldened by the controversy, delivering a robust media performance. Labour-backing unions have reportedly considered backing Streeting in the event of a leadership vacancy. Starmer has sought to calm tensions, with sources describing private overtures as “peace talks”.
Downing Street later clarified that an investigation would be held into the briefing, but Starmer had not previously committed to this. A No 10 source insisted there had been “no direct briefing against Wes from anyone”, and that Starmer viewed Streeting as a “highly effective minister”.
Criticism of McSweeney has intensified, with some former allies now calling for his departure. One minister said: “Morgan will have to go. But it won’t save Keir.” Another cabinet source noted that consensus was forming that McSweeney would have to leave, describing the situation as “devastating”.
The row has weakened Starmer’s position, according to some observers. One cabinet minister remarked that the campaign had “spectacularly backfired”, leaving the prime minister in a weaker position than before.
