Downing Street Turmoil as Starmer Backs Chief of Staff
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney will not be leaving his position at Number 10, despite mounting pressure from within the Labour Party for his dismissal. The political storm erupted following anonymous briefings that targeted Health Secretary Wes Streeting, creating the most significant internal conflict since Labour took power.
Sky News understands that McSweeney categorically denies any involvement in the damaging leaks, insisting he was not "directly or indirectly" responsible for the attacks on one of the government's most senior ministers. The prime minister has thrown his full support behind his closest confidante, with allies confirming Sir Keir would fight any attempts to remove McSweeney from office.
Briefing War Escalates to Public Confrontation
The crisis reached boiling point when several national newspapers led with calls from Labour MPs and unnamed ministers demanding McSweeney's resignation or dismissal. Ironically, the chief of staff found himself becoming a victim of the very anonymous briefing culture he was accused of fostering.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting reacted furiously to suggestions he was plotting to replace Sir Keir Starmer following the chancellor's autumn budget. In a televised interview, Streeting strongly denied the claims and delivered a blistering assessment of Number 10's culture, describing it as "toxic" and accusing certain elements of attempting to "kneecap" him.
Streeting revealed that anonymous sources had described Labour MPs as "feral", a comment he condemned as unhelpful and destructive. Despite his anger at the briefings, the Health Secretary notably refrained from joining calls for McSweeney's removal, acknowledging on Wednesday that "there wouldn't be a Labour government" without him.
Prime Minister Intervenes to Calm Tensions
Sir Keir Starmer moved quickly to contain the damage, telling Prime Minister's Questions that he "never authorised attacks on cabinet members" and emphasising that ministers should not be briefed against. The prime minister stated unequivocally that he had appointed his cabinet because they were "the best people" for their roles.
In a significant development, Sir Keir revealed he had spoken "very briefly" with Streeting later that evening, during which he apologised for the situation. By Thursday, the prime minister went further, stating he had been "assured that no briefing against ministers was done from No 10".
No formal investigation into Tuesday's briefings appears to be underway, suggesting the government hopes to draw a line under the controversy. McSweeney, who has served as chief of staff since October 2024, is widely credited with masterminding Labour's transformation after their 2019 election defeat and subsequent 2024 victory.
The opposition seized on the internal conflict, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accusing Sir Keir of having "lost control of Number 10". With the 26 November budget just two weeks away, Badenoch claimed "the government has descended into civil war", highlighting the potential damage to Labour's credibility during a crucial economic period.
