On Monday, Downing Street officials feared the worst as Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called an impromptu press conference expected to demand Keir Starmer's resignation. The prime minister's position was under threat after losing two senior staffers, but a coordinated operation by about 10 ministers and officials managed to shore up his leadership.
The crisis began on Friday when Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's former chief of staff, flew to Scotland after a week that revealed his mentor Peter Mandelson's links to Jeffrey Epstein. Despite Starmer's public support, McSweeney resigned over the weekend, with Attorney General Richard Hermer reportedly advising the PM to accept his departure.
On Sunday evening, Starmer appointed McSweeney's deputies, Jill Cuthbertson and Vidhya Alakeson, as temporary replacements. However, the new team faced an immediate test when communications director Tim Allan also resigned on Monday morning, just before Sarwar's intervention.
Led by Cuthbertson and political director Amy Richards, aides began calling ministers to gauge loyalty, starting at cabinet level. Ministers were given a script to express support. The operation proved successful, with government insiders describing it as “swift, organised and united.”
One source said the new team proved it could thrive without McSweeney, who had been at Starmer's side since he became Labour leader. The drama highlighted the fragility of Starmer's position but also the effectiveness of his remaining team in managing the crisis.
