Key Highlights
- Morgan McSweeney’s resignation as Sir Keir Starmer’s top aide leaves the prime minister exposed.
- The decision to appoint McSweeney’s deputies as acting successors may start a cultural reset at No 10.
- Many MPs and cabinet members owe their jobs to McSweeney, making his departure significant.
- Starmer is isolated and in potential peril without his best campaign strategist and trusted political adviser.
The sudden resignation of Morgan McSweeney as Sir Keir Starmer’s top aide has sent shockwaves through the Labour Party. A man described as “the political brain” behind some of Starmer’s most crucial decisions, McSweeney’s departure could prove perilous for the prime minister.
The Resignation and Its Implications
McSweeney, an elusive Irishman who rarely speaks publicly, has played a pivotal role in shaping Labour’s strategy over the past decade. His advice led to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington, a decision that now leaves Starmer exposed.
A Man of Many Hats
Unlike typical prime minister-adviser relationships, McSweeney did not choose Starmer; it was arguably the other way around. During the Corbyn years, when control of Labour had been lost to the left, McSweeney polled party members and decided that Starmer was their best chance for wresting back control. This decision has shaped much of Labour’s recent trajectory.
McSweeney is credited with masterminding a general election landslide but blamed for turbulence and U-turns once in government. He is also accused of presiding over a “boys’ club” atmosphere at No 10, prompting calls for a full cultural reset rather than just one change of personnel.
The Political Landscape
Starmer’s decision to appoint McSweeney’s deputies Jill Cuthbertson and Vidhya Alakeson as acting successors may start this process. However, the move has not satisfied some allies of the deposed chief of staff, who point out that other prominent advisers who also recommended Lord Mandelson remain in their jobs.
The resignation removes Starmer’s best campaign strategist and most trusted political adviser at a time when he is isolated and potentially under threat. Logic suggests that if the man who gave the advice should resign, why not the one who actually made the decision?
Backbenchers’ Reaction
No 10’s attempts to mollify backbenchers will continue in the coming days, with particular attention on the 37 Scottish Labour MPs. Many of them privately believe Starmer is a major drag on their chances for the Holyrood elections in May.
The Road Ahead
Will voters care about the resignation of someone they might never have heard of? “I doubt most people in the real world will notice,” says one Labour MP. Yet, McSweeney’s departure removes Starmer’s best campaign strategist and trusted political adviser at a crucial time.
The coming days will be testing for Keir Starmer as he navigates this isolation and potential peril. The fate of both his leadership and the Labour Party hangs in the balance, with no easy answers in sight.
