Labour's Readiness for Government
Morgan McSweeney, the former chief of staff to the UK prime minister, has stated that Labour was insufficiently prepared to govern or to navigate the volatile political environment when Keir Starmer was first elected leader.
McSweeney, widely recognised within the party as Labour’s elections expert, remarked that the party lacked a clear strategy for implementing rapid change for those seeking it.
The former No 10 aide, who became a notable figure due to his involvement in the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as the US ambassador, expressed his desire to speak publicly for the first time as he aims to "move on to a new chapter" beyond Labour and UK politics.
“I mean, I can’t say forever, but certainly for the next few years I’m committing to being out of politics for at least the next few years ahead,”he said, indicating his intention to pursue a different professional direction.
Reflections on Political Strategy and Party Dynamics
During an interview on the BBC’s Political Thinking with Nick Robinson, McSweeney shared insights from his time at No 10, including an anecdote about former US President Donald Trump’s comments on wind turbines and wildlife.
“I think that we didn’t prepare enough for what kind of world we were going to be in.
“We are now in a very different era than when [Labour] was last in government, and I think we didn’t have enough conversations at the top of the party about what that meant, how to prepare for it, what that meant for the state, how the state needed to be reformed, because in lots of ways the state is really out of shape and is unable to deliver for people.”
McSweeney suggested that Labour should have been better equipped to deliver faster change and more attuned to the rapid pace at which the public forms judgments, especially given the number of broken political promises.
“You have to deliver quite quickly for people for them to see the change quickly, and I think we didn’t come in with enough of a theory about how we would do that, and why that was important,”he explained.
Public Profile and Career Plans
Known for his influential role in Starmer’s leadership and his strict approach to party discipline, McSweeney acknowledged the discomfort he experienced from increased public scrutiny.
“I need to move on to a new chapter in my life, and to do that, I need to close the old one, and to make clear that that’s happening,”he stated.
“I loved working for Labour party and for a Labour government. It was an incredible privilege. I loved managing election campaigns, and that means that you don’t have a public voice, and you should not be a visible character. That didn’t work out well for me.
“I became more and more visible the longer I stayed in the job, but I thought I needed to become a bit more public to let people know who I am, and to close a chapter on the past.”
Transition to Chief of Staff and Party Accountability
McSweeney assumed the role of Starmer’s chief of staff just three months after Sue Gray, the former civil servant who served as Starmer’s chief of staff during his opposition leadership. When asked whether Gray was responsible for the party’s lack of preparation, McSweeney clarified that it was not attributable to a single individual.
“When I say we weren’t prepared, I really do mean the Labour party more generally,”he said.
“I take my own responsibilities for that, rather than blaming one person.”
He identified several key errors that contributed to Labour’s rapid decline in popularity, including the overly negative tone set at the outset of the administration. McSweeney argued that the party should have adopted a more optimistic approach from the beginning.
Anecdotes from No 10 and Views on Regional Leadership
McSweeney recounted moments during his tenure at No 10 when officials struggled to suppress laughter during conversations with Donald Trump. He recalled the first call between Trump and Starmer, during which Trump remarked on the impact of wind turbines on bird populations.
“There had been too many birds killed by ‘windmills’ – meaning the turbines on windfarms,”McSweeney said.
“He went on to say that as the foxes ate so many birds and became lazy, they became fat, and as they became so fat, people no longer knew what kind of a creature they were.”
When asked if Trump was attempting humor, McSweeney responded,
“Definitely.”
Looking ahead, McSweeney expressed optimism about Andy Burnham’s premiership and enthusiasm for decentralising government power.
“If at the top of government there are people who don’t just have a desk somewhere outside London, but actually live their whole lives outside of London, I think that will be a good thing,”he said.
“A lot of people won’t like it. I think it’s a good idea. I think he should just push it through, the logistics can be sorted out.”
