Keir Starmer's relationship with his chief of staff faces biggest test yet

"History is littered with the resignation letters of those who have tried to drive a wedge between Keir Starmer and Morgan McSweeney. But that relationship is now facing its biggest test with the spotlight on the conduct of McSweeney as the former director of the Labour Together thinktank and whether there was any ill intent behind late declarations of more than 700,000 in donations."

"The relationship between the prime minister and his chief of staff has often been called a marriage of convenience and that has some merit. Starmer rewarded the man who delivered him a decisive leadership victory and then a historic election majority. McSweeney identified Starmer as the most plausible candidate to defeat Corbynism after the defeat of Jeremy Corbyn in 2019 and crafted a platform. But there is more to their partnership than expediency."

"Starmer has tried out other chiefs of staff over the years but none have suited him like McSweeney. His second chief of staff, Sam White, was a bad fit. His third, Sue Gray, tried to marginalise McSweeney and made enemies in the process, ultimately leading to her own exit. Starmer has until recently implicitly trusted McSweeney's strategic advice. There were whispers about his position after Starmer seemed to question that strategy in government in an interview with his biographer, Tom Baldwin."

Keir Starmer and Morgan McSweeney maintain a close, pragmatic partnership that delivered a decisive leadership victory and a historic election majority. McSweeney served as director of the Labour Together thinktank and now faces scrutiny over late declarations of more than 700,000 in donations and possible ill intent. Starmer has tried other chiefs of staff but found McSweeney uniquely suited to his approach. Internal critics attribute recent policy and political missteps, including welfare battles and early handling of Israel and Gaza, to McSweeney's influence and are pressing for a change of direction amid poor poll ratings.

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