There are internal options. MPs credit Starmer’s Political Director Amy Richards with improving fractured relationships with the Labour back benches. And one of Starmer’s longest-serving aides, his former Director of Communications Ben Nunn, is only next door — working as chief of staff to Chancellor Rachel Reeves in 11 Downing Street.
Others had mooted Darren Jones, the Cabinet minister who as Starmer’s chief secretary is charged with solving problems across government. But Jones has advised Starmer that the chief of staff should be a backroom special adviser, not an elected politician, said a ninth person with knowledge of talks in No. 10.
Some people who have worked with Starmer say he finds personnel decisions difficult and trying to guess his choice is a fool’s game. “I don’t think anyone knows for sure,” said one person who speaks regularly to No. 10. “It’s up to the PM.”
Things carry on
Meanwhile, Starmer’s allies insist that No. 10 is already evolving.
The prime minister has become more willing to pick fights with opposing parties, is more strident about his achievements and his desire to get closer to the EU, and has said he will listen more to his MPs’ concerns about a challenge from the left.
Many of Downing Street’s top roles are also now held by women, after long-running complaints from some aides about a “boys’ club” culture in government. The presentation of McSweeney as an all-knowing Svengali — both by some allies and in the media — long frustrated many aides who argued it gave one man too much credit and overlooked other members of Starmer’s team.