Growing calls for Morgan McSweeney to go after extraordinary briefing operation against Wes Streeting
Keir Starmer is coming under intense pressure from a wide range of ministers and MPs to sack his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, after No 10 was accused of an extraordinary briefing operation against the health secretary, Wes Streeting.
Starmer is understood to have told MPs he will not sack his chief of staff and would not respond to several demands to ensure there were “consequences” for the briefers.
Astounded Labour MPs and ministers have blamed Starmer’s most senior aide for the fallout from an apparently orchestrated plan to fire a warning shot at putative leadership contenders including Streeting.
The health secretary, however, appeared emboldened by the row – with MPs praising a vigorous media performance and at least one Labour-backing union leaning towards backing him in the event of a vacancy.
