Sir Keir Starmer has said he has full confidence in his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney after a row broke out at the top of the Labour Government.
The Prime Minister vowed to ‘absolutely deal with anybody responsible’ after journalists were briefed against his Health Secretary Wes Streeting, with anonymous sources accusing him of plotting to overthrow Starmer.
But Streeting denied this, and later criticised the ‘toxic’ culture in Downing Street, adding he is ‘faithful’ to the party leader.
Since then, fingers have been pointed over who was responsible for the leak – with McSweeney facing the most heat.
Though Starmer said he has confidence in McSweeney, speculation continues over the future of a key member of Starmer’s team.
Here, we explain all you need to know about him.
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Who is Morgan McSweeney?
The senior aide was born in County York. His parents worked as an accountant and an office worker.
He went on to study at the London School of Economics, then dropped out and lived in an Israeli kibbutz for 6 months. When he returned, he got a degree in politics and marketing from Middlesex University.
He joined Tony Blair’s Labour Party in a junior role in 2001, then worked under Steve Reed – the current environment secretary – who was a councillor in south London at the time. He helped to run Reed’s successful campaign to take control of the council.
In 2017, he became director of Think Tank Labour Together, opposing the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn and paving the way for Starmer’s rise to party leader.
He left the Think Tank in 2020 to support Starmer’s leadership campaign and was appointed his Chief of Staff of the opposition.
McSweeney headed Labour’s strategy for the general election, which was said to sideline the left wing of the party and focus on crime, defence and the economy.
The campaign ended in the historic landslide where Labour gained over 200 seats in the House of Commons.
What is his role now?
In October 2024, he was appointed Chief of Staff after Sue Gray sensationally quit, stating it had ‘become clear to her that intense commentary around my position risked becoming a distraction to the government’s vital work of change’.
McSweeney’s role involves influencing government policy formation, advising on political strategy and being the closest aide to the Prime Minister.
Responsibilities of the Chief of Staff post can change depending on the wishes of the Prime Minister of the time. However historically the appointed Chief of Staff is both politically and personally close to the leader.
What role did he play in the briefing against Wes Streeting?
It has been reported that since accusations of Streeting’s leadership plot surfaced, ministers have called for Starmer to sack McSweeney, who they believe was responsible for briefing the press.
Starmer says he has been assured the briefing was ‘not done from No 10’, and followed this by saying ‘I will absolutely deal with anybody responsible for briefing against ministers, cabinet ministers or any other ministers.’
McSweeney has not made any comments, but people who have spoken to him told the BBC: ‘He’s done absolutely nothing wrong. He’s not going anywhere.’
What has Keir Starmer said about McSweeney?
After Starmer dodged a question on whether he had full confidence in his chief of staff at Wednesday’s PMQs, Starmer said: ‘Morgan McSweeney, my team and I are absolutely focused on delivering for this country’.
When asked directly if he would get rid of his top aide, Starmer said he ‘would not’.
On a visit to North Wales, when asked if he had confidence in McSweeney, Starmer said: ‘Of course I do. I work closely with my whole team.’
Could any other Labour staff members get the sack?
It’s looking unlikely. In an attempt to quash McSweeney-related rumours, Anna Turley, Labour’s Chairwoman, said to ITV on Wednesday evening that there would be an investigation into who had made comments to the press against Streeting.
Turnley said that Starmer would take action against the culprit – though who this is remains unknown.
Some other names have been floating about…. including the Prime Minister’s himself. Some have suggested Starmer was aware of the anonymous briefing, claiming it could have been orchestrated to make the Prime Minister’s position seem secure.
Starmer has denied these claims, saying he ‘never authorised’ the ‘unacceptable’ briefing to the press.
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