Will Keir Starmer’s No. 10 reset work?

Who’s in charge in Downing Street? Until recently, the answer to that question would tend to reveal whether you were a Sue Gray or Morgan McSweeney supporter. Keir Starmer’s two most senior aides were viewed to be in a power struggle over the direction of the government. As Chief of Staff, Gray was ultimately in charge of the day-to-day running of government, yet it was McSweeney who was meant to set the political direction. There were complaints that the operation was not sufficiently joined up and that it lacked a clear political direction. ‘There is no narrative,’ complains a party figure. ‘It’s all quite disjointed.’

Gray’s departure – and McSweeney being appointed as her successor – means that there is now at least a clear chain of command. McSweeney, who was responsible for the party’s successful 2024 election campaign (and the Starmer project more widely), moves from heading up the political unit to the whole No.