Knives are out for Starmer’s backroom fixer – nevertheless it will not save the PM’s pores and skin | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Sir Keir Starmer stood within the House of Commons on Wednesday to insist his right-hand man, Morgan McSweeney, stays “an essential part” of his Downing Street operation.

The Prime Minister was responding to an assault from Tory chief Kemi Badenoch, who branded his chief of workers “a protégé of Peter Mandelson”.

It was, in spite of everything, the pupil of the Prince of the Darkness who loyally pushed for Mandelson’s appointment to the UK’s most senior diplomatic posting – the UK’s ambassador to the United States.

The Conservatives argued there are “serious questions to answer” over the disgraced former peer’s rise to the function, with Mrs Badenoch accusing the Prime Minister of “injecting Mandelson’s poison into the heart of his Government” on McSweeney’s recommendation.

It shouldn’t be the primary political contamination related to the aide credited with successful Climbdown Keir within the 2024 General Election.

He survived an inside briefing struggle that focused Health Secretary Wes Streeting in November, a row over undeclared donations a month earlier, and accusations that he’s considerably accountable for Labour’s “women problem”.

So it appears McSweeney might but grow to be a handy scapegoat for a Prime Minister whose political judgement has repeatedly come beneath scrutiny.

Sir Flip Flop, in spite of everything, has already chalked up at the very least 14 main U-turns since taking workplace 18 months in the past.

Ultimately, it’s he – not his advisers – who’s accountable for working the nation.

And it was the Prime Minister himself who acknowledged he was conscious that Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein continued after the latter’s conviction for baby intercourse offences – but nonetheless appointed him to signify Britain on the worldwide stage.

Sacking a senior aide who is way disliked by Labour’s parliamentary get together could provide short-term political cowl, nevertheless it received’t save his pores and skin.

When Mrs Badenoch pressed Sir Keir on McSweeney’s function, the Prime Minister stated: “Morgan McSweeney is an essential part of my team. He helped me change the Labour Party and win an election. Of course, I have confidence.

“But whatever is slung across this despatch box, I don’t think it’s right for the Cabinet Secretary to be denigrated in that way and to suggest that he would be involved in a cover-up.”

For now, the Prime Minister is standing by his No 10 svengali.

But allies and opponents know Sir Keir shouldn’t be a person unfamiliar with a sudden change of route.

This saga is much less about if Sir Keir’s head will roll, however extra about when.

His former deputy, Angela Rayner, already drew blood by knifing the Prime Minister within the Commons on Wednesday by urgent for a tweak to the Government’s modification.

If the febrile environment coursing by the corridors of energy is something to go by, then it is just a matter of time earlier than management hopefuls declare “off along with his head”!