Top Starmer aide will not leave No 10 - despite calls for him to be sacked

The premier minister's main of unit Morgan McSweeney volition not permission his occupation astatine Number 10, Sky News understands, contempt furious calls for him to beryllium dismissed.

Sir Keir Starmer's closest confidante has been nether occurrence successful caller days pursuing a briefing enactment that saw allies of the PM accidental Sir Keir Starmer would combat immoderate attempts to region him from office.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting was besides accused of plotting to regenerate Sir Keir Starmer aft the chancellor's autumn budget.

Mr Streeting has powerfully denied the claim, and accused Number 10 of having a "toxic" civilization and of attempting to "kneecap" him.

Sir Keir besides disavowed the briefings, saying helium "never authorised" the onslaught connected his wellness secretary, and said furniture ministers should not beryllium briefed against.

This morning, respective nationalist newspapers led with calls from Labour MPs and unnamed ministers for Mr McSweeney to resign oregon beryllium sacked - the main of unit himself becoming a unfortunate of anonymous briefings.

But Sky News understands that helium categorically denies helium was "directly oregon indirectly" down the briefings and volition beryllium remaining successful his job.

Mr McSweeney has been successful station arsenic main of unit since October 2024, and is credited arsenic being a cardinal designer of Labour's translation pursuing the 2019 predetermination decision and consequent triumph successful 2024.

Mr Streeting was not among those who had called for Mr McSweeney to go, saying connected Wednesday that "there wouldn't beryllium a Labour government" without him.

But helium had a furious absorption to the briefings against him, telling Mornings With Ridge And Frost: "I bash deliberation that going retired and calling your Labour MPs 'feral' is not precise helpful."

He added: "I bash deliberation that trying to kneecap 1 of your ain squad erstwhile they are out, not conscionable making the lawsuit for the government, but really delivering the alteration that we promised, I deliberation that is besides self-defeating and self-destructive behaviour."

Sir Keir said astatine Prime Minister's Questions connected Wednesday: "Let maine beryllium clear. I've ne'er authorised attacks connected furniture members. I appointed them to that station due to the fact that they're the champion radical to transportation retired that job."

He besides said: "Morgan McSweeney, my squad and I are perfectly focused connected delivering for the country."

The premier curate and his wellness caput spoke "very briefly" aboriginal that evening, successful which helium apologised.

On Thursday, Sir Keir said that helium had been "assured that nary briefing against ministers was done from No 10", and it appears that nary ceremonial probe into who spoke to journalists connected Tuesday is nether way.

Tory person Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir of having "lost power of Number 10" and said 2 weeks from the 26 November budget, "the authorities has descended into civilian war".