Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has publicly affirmed his full confidence in his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, following a damaging internal row that has exposed tensions at the highest level of the Labour government. The crisis erupted after journalists received anonymous briefings accusing Health Secretary Wes Streeting of plotting to overthrow the Prime Minister.
Sir Keir vowed to ‘absolutely deal with anybody responsible’ for the leaks, which targeted a senior cabinet minister. Mr Streeting vehemently denied the allegations, criticising the ‘toxic’ culture within Downing Street and reaffirming his loyalty to the party leader. Amid the fallout, speculation has intensified over the future of Morgan McSweeney, a key architect of Labour's election victory, who is facing the brunt of the blame for the incident.
Who is Morgan McSweeney?
Morgan McSweeney's journey to the heart of British power is a tale of political grit and strategic genius. Born in County Cork, to parents who worked as an accountant and an office worker, his path was not a conventional one. He initially studied at the London School of Economics before dropping out to spend six months living in an Israeli kibbutz.
Upon his return to the UK, he secured a degree in politics and marketing from Middlesex University. His political career began in a junior role within Tony Blair’s Labour Party in 2001. He later cut his teeth working for Steve Reed, now the Environment Secretary, helping to mastermind his successful campaign to take control of a south London council.
In 2017, McSweeney took a decisive step by becoming director of the think tank Labour Together, where he played a pivotal role in opposing Jeremy Corbyn's leadership and laying the groundwork for Sir Keir Starmer's ascent. He left the think tank in 2020 to lead Starmer's leadership campaign and was duly appointed his Chief of Staff in opposition.
His most celebrated achievement was heading Labour's strategy for the 2024 general election. His approach, which sidelined the party's left wing to focus on crime, defence, and the economy, resulted in a historic landslide victory, with Labour gaining over 200 seats.
The Downing Street Leak and Mounting Pressure
The political storm broke in November 2025, when anonymous sources briefed the press that Wes Streeting was disloyal and plotting a leadership challenge. In the ensuing uproar, several ministers reportedly called for Starmer to sack McSweeney, whom they believed was responsible for the damaging leak.
The Prime Minister has stated he received assurances that the briefing was ‘not done from No 10’. However, he stopped short of giving his chief of staff an unequivocal public vote of confidence during Prime Minister's Questions, initially dodging a direct question on the matter.
McSweeney has remained silent, but allies speaking to the BBC have fiercely defended him, stating, ‘He’s done absolutely nothing wrong. He’s not going anywhere.’ Later, during a visit to North Wales, Starmer did confirm his confidence in McSweeney, saying, ‘Of course I do. I work closely with my whole team.’ When directly asked if he would get rid of his top aide, the Prime Minister stated he ‘would not’.
What Happens Next?
In an attempt to quell the rumours and internal strife, Labour’s Chairwoman, Anna Turley, announced on Wednesday evening that an investigation would be launched to identify the source of the comments made against Wes Streeting. She confirmed that Starmer would take action against the culprit, though their identity remains unknown.
Some speculation has even swirled around the Prime Minister himself, with suggestions he may have been aware of the briefing to strengthen his own position. Starmer has flatly denied these claims, stating he ‘never authorised’ what he called an ‘unacceptable’ briefing.
With McSweeney's role involving immense influence over government policy and political strategy, this scandal represents the most significant internal test for the Starmer administration since its landslide win. The outcome of the investigation and the Prime Minister's subsequent actions will be closely watched as a measure of his control over a potentially fractious party.
