Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing intense and growing pressure from within his own party to dismiss his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, following a dramatic and apparently orchestrated briefing operation against Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
A Spectacular Backfire
The political manoeuvre, intended to fire a warning shot at potential leadership contenders, has spectacularly backfired, uniting ministers and MPs against McSweeney. Astounded Labour MPs and ministers have blamed Starmer’s most senior aide for the fallout, with many now insisting he must leave his post.
Despite the mounting pressure, Keir Starmer is understood to have told MPs he will not sack his chief of staff. At the party’s backbench committee on Wednesday, he refused demands to ensure there were consequences for the briefers. One MP present starkly declared that the prime minister had lost the dressing room.
Streeting's Defiant Response
The health secretary, Wes Streeting, emerged emboldened from the row, mounting a furious and vigorous defence in a series of media appearances. He dismissed the anonymous briefings, stating, Whoever has been briefing this has been watching too much Celebrity Traitors. It’s the most unjustified attack against the faithfuls since Joe Marler was banished in the final.
Far from weakening his position, the attack appears to have strengthened Streeting's standing. MPs praised his media performance, and at least one Labour-backing union is now reportedly leaning towards backing him in the event of a future leadership vacancy.
Internal Fallout and Paranoia
Downing Street sources revealed that Starmer's anger was still directed at Streeting, frustrated by the health secretary's arguments against government policy on issues like welfare, digital ID, and Gaza. However, the prime minister was forced to make private overtures to Streeting, described by one source as peace talks, and was due to speak directly to him on Wednesday night.
The consensus within the cabinet is now turning against McSweeney. One cabinet minister stated, If it was an orchestrated campaign to shore up the PM, then it’s had the opposite effect; it’s spectacularly backfired. I don’t see how Morgan can survive when Keir has ended up in a weaker position than before.
Another cabinet source expressed devastation, suggesting the incident revealed a deeper problem: I think it’s just that they just have to have an enemy. It’s become their achilles heel. The fallout has also strained relations between McSweeney and Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, who is reportedly frustrated by the constant scandals and briefing wars.
As the dust settles, the prime minister finds himself in a weakened position, facing pressure from many different quarters over his dependence on his chief of staff for political advice. While there is no indication that Streeting will resign or be sacked, the future of Morgan McSweeney at the heart of Downing Street appears increasingly uncertain.
