Downing Street in turmoil as briefing operation backfires
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing intense pressure from ministers and MPs across his party to dismiss his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, following an extraordinary briefing operation targeting Health Secretary Wes Streeting. The controversy has exposed deep divisions within the Labour government just months after taking office.
The orchestrated warning that backfired
Downing Street stands accused of orchestrating a plan to fire a warning shot at potential leadership contenders, with Wes Streeting appearing to be the primary target. Instead of strengthening Starmer's position, the operation has spectacularly backfired, with many Labour MPs now believing the incident has actually strengthened Streeting's future leadership prospects.
At Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer notably dodged a direct question about whether he had full confidence in McSweeney, instead stating: "Morgan McSweeney, my team and I are absolutely focused on delivering for this country." Later that afternoon, at Labour's backbench committee, the prime minister directly refused demands from MPs to sack those responsible for the briefings.
Fallout spreads through Labour ranks
The health secretary mounted a vigorous defence of his position during media appearances, comparing the attacks to the television show Celebrity Traitors. Meanwhile, relations between Starmer and Streeting have required private "peace talks" to calm tensions, with the two due to speak directly for the first time since the row erupted.
One cabinet minister summarised the widespread view: "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."
Pressure on McSweeney is coming from "many different quarters" of the government, according to insiders. Trade minister Chris Bryant publicly criticised the operation, suggesting political aides should view politics as a "team sport" rather than "hobbling one of the players before the match."
Broader implications for Starmer's leadership
The controversy has revealed deeper tensions within Starmer's inner circle. Relations have also deteriorated between McSweeney and Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, who is reportedly frustrated by how frequently government attention is diverted by scandals and internal briefing wars.
Some MPs now believe Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is McSweeney's preferred successor to Starmer, though sources close to Mahmood have dismissed this as "nonsense" and emphasised her focus on upcoming asylum policy changes.
One minister present at the backbench committee meeting delivered a damning assessment: "The prime minister had lost the dressing room." Another cabinet source expressed devastation at the situation, questioning whether there was "a bigger strategy that I'm not understanding" or if the government simply "has to have an enemy."
Despite the turmoil, Downing Street sources maintain that Starmer continues to view Streeting as "a highly effective minister, with great communication skills" and insists there has been "no direct briefing against Wes from anyone." The prime minister's office appears determined to ride out the storm, though many within the party believe McSweeney's position has become untenable.
