Keir Starmer replaces Sue Gray with campaign supremo Morgan McSweeney

by · Mail Online

Sir Keir Starmer has replaced Sue Gray with his campaign supremo in what is being seen as a victory for the ‘boys’ club’ within No 10.

Within minutes of the announcement of Ms Gray’s departure, the Prime Minister appointed Morgan McSweeney as his new chief of staff, sealing his victory in a bitter internal power struggle with the former civil servant.

The 47-year-old Irishman has already been credited with transforming the Labour Party into an election-winning machine after the Corbyn era.

Having been director of centrist think-tank Labour Together, he ran Sir Keir’s successful leadership campaign in 2020 before becoming director of campaigns as he plotted the party’s rise to power this year.

He was initially appointed head of ­political strategy in Downing Street in July but soon clashed with Ms Gray, who was meant to have been delivering the programme for government.

Sir Keir Starmer has replaced Sue Gray with his campaign supremo Morgan McSweeney as his Chief of Staff 
Following her resignation, Ms Gray now becomes the Prime Minister’s ‘envoy for the regions and nations’, and is expected to take a pay cut from her former salary of £170,000
Sir Keir's new Chief of Staff Mr McSweeney is credited with transforming the Labour Party into an election-winning machine after the Corbyn era

There were numerous briefings that he was at the head of a ‘boys’ club’ inside No 10, along with Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden, with Ms Gray on the other side. Amid jostling for position between the sides, it was even reported that she had moved Mr McSweeney’s desk further away from the PM’s office.

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Then Ms Gray hit the headlines after it emerged that she was being paid more than Sir Keir and stayed away from Labour conference, although she joined him on important trips to see Joe Biden in ­Washington DC and Donald Trump in New York.

And last night one senior figure told the Mail, as the Partygate inquisitor was ousted: ‘The lads have clearly won this round.’

Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell also accused ‘the boys’ in No 10 of caring more about ­getting rid of Ms Gray than dealing with more ­important matters facing the world.

He wrote online: ‘We’re facing the ­potential of a war setting the Middle East alight, already ­thousands are being killed in Lebanon, and what is the focus of the boys around Keir Starmer’s office, carving up Sue Gray and grabbing her job and salary. Words fail me.’

Mr McSweeney, whose wife Imogen Walker is a newly elected Labour MP in Scotland, has been given two female assistants.

Vidhya Alakeson and Jill ­Cuthbertson were both ­promoted from roles in No 10 to become deputy chiefs of staff.

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell accused the 'the boys' in Downing Street of being more bothered about internal power struggles than in dealing with important issues facing the world

Another senior woman in Downing Street, director of the policy unit, Nin Pandit, was also given a powerful new civil service role, that of principal private ­secretary to the PM.

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It had been thought that the recruitment process had been held up by tussles between Ms Gray and others in No 10 over who should get the job, as she reportedly favoured a former colleague.

Ms Pandit worked for many years in the NHS and will be joined in Downing Street by a ­former director of communications of NHS England.

James Lyons will lead a new ‘strategic communications team’ following concern that No 10 had been too slow to react to ­damaging stories including the rows over freebies and influential donor Lord Alli, as well as the briefings against Ms Gray.

Sir Keir said: ‘I’m really pleased to be able to bring in such ­talented and experienced ­individuals into my team. This shows my absolute determination to deliver the change the country voted for.’

Ms Gray now becomes the Prime Minister’s ‘envoy for the regions and nations’, and is expected to take a pay cut from her former salary of £170,000. 

Ms Gray said she had resigned after commentary about her position had become distraction  to the Government's work

She said in a statement: ‘It has been an honour to take on the role of chief of staff, and to play my part in the delivery of a Labour government.

‘Throughout my career my first interest has always been public service. However, in recent weeks it has become clear to me that intense commentary around my position risked becoming a ­distraction to the Government’s vital work of change.

‘It is for that reason I have ­chosen to stand aside, and I look forward to continuing to support the Prime Minister in my new role.’

Tory MP Saqib Bhatti said: ‘Morgan McSweeney wins the battle against Sue Gray. It was clear he and his allies have been briefing against her since day one.

‘It’s unlikely to be the end of the matter and does not bode well for stability at the top of government.’