Starmer's Premiership Hinges on McSweeney Amid Labour Rebellion
While the name Morgan McSweeney might not be familiar to the general public, it has become a focal point of intense discussion within the Westminster bubble. As Downing Street chief of staff, McSweeney wields considerable power, a fact that has sparked a significant internal Labour rebellion calling for his dismissal.
Labour MPs are reportedly telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer that he must sack his chief of staff or potentially face losing his own position. This ultimatum reveals a leader in serious political trouble, grappling with the immense influence of an unelected official at the heart of government.
The Power Behind the Throne
Whispers in Westminster's corridors suggest this may not truly be Starmer's government at all, but rather McSweeney's. Many perceive the Prime Minister as a frontman for a project being directed from behind the scenes. This perception is reinforced by tales from the recent ministerial reshuffle, where sources claim the three individuals removed from the cabinet were all people McSweeney wanted out.
The campaign against former deputy leader Angela Rayner, though culminating in her resignation over tax affairs, is said to have been a long, concerted effort by the Blairite wing of the party, of which McSweeney is a key member. Furthermore, the damaging leak regarding Rayner's comments on immigration during a cabinet meeting is believed to have only occurred with McSweeney's explicit authorisation.
Lucy Powell's removal as Commons leader, according to an ally, was because "she kept standing up to McSweeney and telling him he was wrong." Similarly, Ian Murray was replaced as Scottish Secretary by Douglas Alexander, a move attributed by a source to "McSweeney's obsession with Blair-era figures." Alexander, a capable individual, served as a minister and campaign chief under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
Mounting Anger and Historical Context
Current anger towards McSweeney is intensifying over his links with Lord Mandelson. Reports indicate the 48-year-old chief of staff not only pushed for Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the US but also attempted to prevent his subsequent sacking. To fully understand McSweeney's pivotal role, one must look back to the Corbyn era.
As director of Labour Together, McSweeney was at the forefront of efforts to save the party from what many saw as a far-left trajectory. He effectively organised the fightback and is credited with handpicking Starmer as the leader to steer the party towards electability. Labour's subsequent general election victory, which McSweeney ran, vindicated this project, though the party entered government with a notably thin policy portfolio.
McSweeney's consolidation of power began with the removal of an initial obstacle: Sue Gray, the original chief of staff whom he replaced. As the welfare crisis mounted last year, with scores of Labour MPs threatening to rebel against government policy, calls for McSweeney's removal grew loud. These calls have persisted and have been amplified to stratospheric levels by the recent Mandelson scandal.
Starmer's Dilemma: A Weakened Position
This presents Starmer with a profound dilemma. If this government is indeed more McSweeney's than Starmer's, the Prime Minister may theoretically possess the authority to sack his chief of staff. However, the critical question remains: where would that leave him?
Without McSweeney's strategic acumen and political machinery, Starmer would be significantly weakened. In such a scenario, suggestions of an imminent leadership coup within weeks become a very realistic threat. The Prime Minister finds himself in a precarious position, where his political survival appears intrinsically linked to the very figure causing such internal discord.
