Following on from Guido’s Labour Wars column yesterday the situation inside Downing Street is looking poor for Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney. Mandelson was his closest confidante, they called almost every day and met frequently for years, McSweeney pushed his appointment…
A Downing Street source says Starmer likely “won’t sack him – at least until May.” This being said Guido hears backbenchers are registering their fury at McSweeney and the whips are reporting that there is widespread blame on him from the PLP who are in turn receiving a barrage from their constituents. An insider source says “Jonathan Powell and Tim Allan will be key to how long Morgan lasts”…
The longer the story stays salient the worse it will be for Morgan. A No10 source says that were a full timeline of Mandelson’s appointment to be released it would be extremely damaging for McSweeney because “if ever released it would show just how much Morgan was pushing his appointment” involving “lots of meetings with Darren Tierney and his Propriety and Ethics team, the FCDO and others.” Starmer is said to have been kept in the dark as to most of this. Something of which the beleaguered PM will now be acutely aware…
Guido exclusively reported in last week’s members-only Labour Wars column that there is real frustration in government levelled at Starmer’s personal SpAd/minister Darren Jones. The ‘Chief Secretary to the PM’ is derided as smug and ineffective – a Downing Street source reports he is “actively harming the business of government”…
Talk around Whitehall is that the chaotic Cabinet Office – now overseen by Jones – is worse than ever. About 80% of government matters that don’t fit neatly into a department is handled by the CO…
Guido hears Whitehall’s chief fixer Louise Casey is intensely frustrated at the situation. Insider sources say the top personnel are to blame: Darren Jones, Permanent Secretary Catherine Little, Second Permanent Secretary Clara Swinson, and Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald. Wormald in particular has been at the end of a barrage of criticism…
Senior government sources bemoan Wormald’s continued presence in the job as well as the departures of ex-Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Black, and ex-Propriety and Constitution Director Darren Tierney, who left last year. Starmer – now gallivanting in China – has so far done nothing…
A Downing Street source tells Guido that Starmer is sleepwalking on the issue because “the foreign policy element works” while the department’s domestic functions get even worse. Things are coming to a head for Wormald – his obvious replacements Home Office permanent secretary Antonia Romeo or the FCDO’s Olly Robbins are circling…
Downing Street is chalking up Burnham’s blockage as a win even as backbenchers organise in favour of the Manchester mayor and government figures privately admit Gorton and Denton is now lost for the Labour Party. It’s the small victories…
A Downing Street source tells Guido that Starmer’s top aides are “wandering around as if they’ve just pulled off Operation Mincemeat” after executing the “only thing Keir could do.” Starmer’s opponents are empowered but government sources still don’t predict any movement until after the May local elections…
Fifty backbenchers have written to Starmer to complain that blocking Burnham is a “real gift” to Reform while the left-wing Tribune Group complains separately to Shabana Mahmood about the NEC decision. Government figures are briefing in anticipation of a hard landing – one tells the Times that the choice was losing the by-election or losing Manchester…
Housing secretary Steve Reed – on the morning round today – said Burnham should serve his full term: “Voters have a right to expect that if they elect a politician to a job, that they will serve out the full term for the job that they have elected them to do.” The Greens are now in pole position with the bookies in Gorton and Denton on 43% to Reform’s 36% – Labour trails on 20%…
At the Lobby briefing of Westminster journalists Starmer’s spokesman attacked Trump for his comments on NATO troops not being on the ‘front line’ in conflicts with America:
“The President was wrong to diminish the role of NATO troops, including British forces in Afghanistan. Following the 911 attacks on the US, Article 5 of the NATO treaty was invoked for the first time, and British forces served alongside American and other allied troops in sustained combat operations.”
New combative Starmer stance at play…
There have been some changes to the Downing Street team since late last year. Shuffling deckchairs…
After a secondment period two new permanent briefing SpAds Bella Ford and Tom Hourigan have been hired to an enlarged team. Existing briefing SpAd Jason Keen has been promoted to head of briefings. Communications Director Tim Allan promised a “strong start in January.” Reach for the sky…
Ex-Mirror Pol Ed John Stevens has taken over the print liaison brief in No10. There are several other changes – new departmental SpAds alongside movement and additions in Downing Street. If you thought No10 wasn’t explaining itself enough…
Guido updates all changes live, and first. Find you thought the full up-to-date list of serving SpAds at order-order.com/spads
Very many tired SpAds have shifted off from Westminster to try to enjoy a long Christmas break. It starts again in January…
Insiders point out that Downing Street’s political director Amy Richards enjoyed her last day yesterday. She’s back after the New Year. Nice for some…
Director of Communications Tim Allan was snapped entering Downing Street today with a sheet that boasted of a “strong start in January” with a “comprehensive” announcements grid for the first week back at school. Darren Jones remarked this week that the less the government announces the better…
Starmer’s team have not said where he will be over Christmas. Far away…
Former leader of the SNP in Westminster Ian Blackford told Times Radio why he believes Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that she spent no time in the kitchen and therefore didn’t see any of her husband’s purchases:
“She doesn’t have a passion for cooking.”