Pressure Mounts on Starmer to Sack Chief of Staff Over Briefing Row

Published: 13 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure from ministers and MPs to sack his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, following accusations that No 10 orchestrated an extraordinary briefing campaign targeting the health secretary, Wes Streeting. The controversy has sent shockwaves through Labour ranks, with many insiders warning that the fallout could have long-term consequences for party unity and the prime minister’s authority.

Starmer has reportedly told MPs he will not dismiss McSweeney and has resisted repeated calls to ensure there were “consequences” for those responsible for the briefings. Nonetheless, astonished Labour MPs and ministers have largely blamed the prime minister’s most senior aide for the row, describing the actions as part of an apparent plan to send warning signals to potential leadership contenders, including Streeting.

Despite the chaos, Streeting appeared undeterred. Observers noted that the health secretary handled media appearances over the past week with poise and vigour, winning praise from MPs and at least one Labour-supporting union, which hinted it could back him should a vacancy arise in the party leadership. Starmer has also attempted to smooth relations privately with Streeting, with one source describing the effort as “peace talks.”

During Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer sidestepped a direct question about whether he had full confidence in his chief of staff, prompting Downing Street to issue clarification. “Morgan McSweeney, my team and I are absolutely focused on delivering for this country,” Starmer said. However, when pressed by MPs at the backbench committee on Wednesday to sack the briefers, he maintained his stance, prompting one MP to comment that the prime minister had “lost the dressing room.”

Labour chair Anna Turley attempted to quell the crisis, telling ITV on Wednesday evening that an investigation would be launched into who had briefed against Streeting and that action would be taken against the culprit—something Starmer had not committed to in earlier discussions with MPs. Yet, sources inside No 10 suggest that the prime minister’s frustration remains focused on Streeting, whose opposition to government approaches on welfare, digital ID, and foreign policy issues—including the Gaza situation—has reportedly tested Starmer’s patience.

Starmer and Streeting had their first substantive conversation since the row began, with the prime minister apologising to the health secretary while stopping short of committing to further action. A Downing Street source said: “Keir is clear that Wes is a highly effective minister, with great communication skills, and he has his full backing. There has been no direct briefing against Wes from anyone.”

Some political strategists, however, argue that the intention behind the briefings was not to single out Streeting but to demonstrate to Labour MPs the potentially severe consequences of a leadership battle, effectively warning that Starmer would vigorously defend his position. Despite these efforts, the strategy seems to have backfired. Streeting’s forceful media appearances have only bolstered his profile, with some allies suggesting it may strengthen any future leadership campaign.

Former allies of McSweeney have voiced doubts about his ability to remain in post. One minister remarked, “Morgan will have to go. But it won’t save Keir.” Trade minister Chris Bryant told the BBC that aides should treat politics as a “team sport” and criticised actions that undercut ministers: “It’s a bit daft if you have someone in the coach’s team hobbling one of the players before the match.”

Cabinet insiders have echoed similar sentiments, warning that the perceived orchestrated campaign to protect the prime minister has spectacularly backfired. “If it was an orchestrated campaign to shore up the PM, then it’s had the opposite effect,” one cabinet minister said. “I don’t see how Morgan can survive when Keir has ended up in a weaker position than before.” Another added: “I think the scales are falling from people’s eyes about Morgan. I don’t know if it’s worse that it’s done with Keir’s authorisation or that he is so checked out he does not know about it.”

Despite the tension, some insiders acknowledge that No 10’s paranoia is not entirely unfounded. Streeting’s leadership ambitions are widely acknowledged within the Parliamentary Labour Party, and the briefings were reportedly intended as a pre-emptive measure. However, the timing and manner of the intervention have left many MPs and ministers questioning the prime minister’s strategy.

Relations between McSweeney and other senior advisers, such as Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, have also reportedly deteriorated. Sources say frustration is mounting over how frequently government attention is diverted to internal scandals or briefing disputes. Meanwhile, speculation has emerged about potential successors to McSweeney, with some MPs suggesting that home secretary Shabana Mahmood could be a candidate, though sources close to her deny she is pursuing any leadership manoeuvres.

As pressure continues to mount, Starmer’s ability to navigate the fallout from this briefing row may prove pivotal. With party unity in question and the potential for further leadership speculation, the actions of both the prime minister and his chief of staff will be closely scrutinised in the coming weeks. The controversy has also sparked broader discussion about accountability, communication, and the delicate balance between political strategy and public perception within the highest levels of government.