The debate around how long Morgan McSweeney might have left as the Prime Minister’s chief of staff has been is bubbling away and doesn’t look like abating.
He has been facing criticism over his role in Peter Mandelson becoming US ambassador after it emerged he was “very insistent” on the appointment.
He reportedly pushed hard for the Labour peer to get the job despite concerns within the party over his friendship with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
McSweeney has also reportedly been blamed for the delay in sacking the Labour grandee as he advised the Prime Minister that he should stick by Mandelson despite others in the party calling for him to go.
Who is Morgan McSweeney?
Born in Macroom, County Cork, McSweeney joined Labour under Tony Blair, working in a junior role at the party's headquarters.
He later worked for Steve Reed when he was a councillor in Lambeth, south London. Reed now serves as Housing Secretary in Starmer’s government.
In 2006, McSweeney helped run the party’s successful campaign to take control of the council, with Reed becoming leader.
McSweeney went on in 2010 to play a key role in defeating the BNP in the area of Barking and Dagenham, where the far-right party was hoping to win its first parliamentary seat.
It was in 2017 that the close relationship between McSweeney and Keir Starmer really formed. McSweeney became a director of the think tank Labour Together which opposed the direction of the party under Jeremy Corbyn and went on to back Keir Starmer.
He left Labour Together in 2020 to run Starmer’s leadership bid, later becoming his chief of staff where he played a key role in removing Corbyn supporters from positions of power.
After Sue Gray quit as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff following the election, McSweeney became the PM’s chief of staff in October 2024.
Donations scandal
Earlier that year, it had emerged that McSweeney had failed to declare donations of £700,000 to Labour Together, leading to an investigation by the Electoral Commission.
It was discovered that during the time McSweeney failed to register support from millionaire venture capitalists and businessmen, concerns had been raised about protecting a high-profile Jewish donor.
It was reported senior figures at the think tank wanted to ensure that Trevor Chinn kept a low profile because of “growing” antisemitism in the Labour Party.
Around £100,000 of donations given by Chinn were reported late by the think tank.
Labour Together was fined £14,250 for its failure to register donations totalling £739,000.
Why are we hearing about McSweeney now?
McSweeney has been facing criticism for his role in appointing Mandelson as US ambassador, as he was reportedly insistent on the peer being given the role despite concerns over his friendship with Epstein.
There were also questions surrounding McSweeney following an apparent delay to remove Mandelson from the post after emails emerged showing Mandelson backing Epstein even after he had pleaded guilty to sex offences.
The cache of emails obtained by Bloomberg showed that on the day before Epstein reported to jail in June 2008, Mandelson told him, “your friends stay with you and love you”.
McSweeney previously worked for Mandelson during Blair’s time in government, as he played a role in Labour’s campaign in marginal seats in the run-up to the 2005 General Election. Mandelson has reportedly remained a mentor and friend to McSweeney.
