Cracks at the Core: Labour’s Leadership Tensions Spill into View
For months, Westminster whispers have hinted at tensions simmering beneath Labour’s calm exterior. This week, those whispers erupted into a full-blown briefing war — drawing Keir Starmer, his chief strategist Morgan McSweeney, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting into an awkward political triangle.
The story, at its heart, is about loyalty, ambition, and a misjudged attempt to flush out a threat.
According to some Labour insiders, the strategy resembled an old Gordon Brown-era manoeuvre — push a potential rival into the deep end and watch them retreat. But if that was the plan, it backfired spectacularly. Wes Streeting didn’t flinch. He dived in headfirst.
The Plot That Strengthened the Target
Starmer’s allies had accused Streeting of plotting to replace the prime minister — a move that stunned many in government and gave the health secretary an unexpected boost. Far from looking rattled, Streeting laughed it off, telling broadcasters that those briefing against him had clearly been watching Celebrity Traitors and ought to “switch over to Countryfile”.
The attempted ambush only enhanced Streeting’s stature. “They’ve basically given him the best stage possible,” sighed one senior aide. Another was blunter: “It’s like an elephant picking a fight with a shark — in the middle of the ocean.”
Fault Lines at No 10
Behind the farce lies something more serious. Relations between Starmer and his once-untouchable chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, have soured. McSweeney — long seen as the architect of Labour’s return to electability — has increasingly become a lightning rod for ministerial frustration.
Inside No 10, some now question his judgement and longevity. The decision to brief against Streeting, critics argue, was simply the latest in a string of poor calls.
McSweeney’s defenders insist he remains indispensable, that his and Starmer’s fortunes are “mutually assured”. But others quietly note that the pair no longer move in lockstep.
An Uneasy Alliance
For years, Westminster gossip suggested that Starmer was merely the vehicle for McSweeney’s grand project — to wrench Labour from the grip of the hard left and deliver power back to the party’s modernisers, perhaps paving the way for a Streeting succession.
Whether that was ever true is debatable. What’s clearer now is that Starmer and McSweeney’s relationship is fraying. A turning point came after Starmer’s controversial “island of strangers” speech, whose hardline immigration language drew criticism even from allies. Starmer reportedly now believes he was badly advised.
The fallout deepened over McSweeney’s association with Peter Mandelson, whose name has resurfaced in unwelcome headlines. “This feels different,” one No 10 insider admitted. “People have tried to separate Keir and Morgan before — but never with this much success.”
The Wes Factor
Meanwhile, Streeting has emerged not weakened but emboldened. Seen by many MPs as Labour’s next natural leader, his easy confidence and sharp political instincts have made him both admired and resented within Starmer’s circle.
“He’s not the sort to inch his way into the sea,” said one long-time observer, invoking Damian McBride’s famous metaphor for political hesitation. “He’s the type to sprint and dive.”
For Starmer, that presents a dilemma: contain Streeting, or embrace him. For McSweeney, it may be too late for either.
The Verdict
Labour’s recent skirmish wasn’t just about one minister or one rumour. It laid bare the fragile bonds binding the party’s top tier — and the risk of friendly fire at the height of power.
For now, Starmer remains firmly in charge. But as one insider put it: “You can only have one strategist at the top of Downing Street — and only one future prime minister.”
