October 7th 2024.
For years, Morgan McSweeney has been a close and trusted ally of Keir Starmer. In fact, he has been one of the most influential figures in the Labour Party, and now he holds a significant position in the UK government. Surprisingly, not many people are familiar with his name.
Recently, McSweeney took over as Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff in No 10, after the previous civil servant resigned. Prior to this, he held the position of the Prime Minister's head of political strategy, a role that he had been fulfilling for quite some time. It has been reported that McSweeney and the former chief of staff, Sue Gray, were involved in a power struggle over decision-making in the government's vision for the country. But now, it seems that McSweeney, also known as 'The Morganiser', has emerged victorious.
But who is Morgan McSweeney? And why has the Prime Minister entrusted him with the task of getting the government back on track after months of controversy? Contrary to popular belief, McSweeney is not a Member of Parliament. However, he has played a significant role in the success of many Labour MPs, including those who are currently serving in the House of Commons.
Born in Cork, Ireland, McSweeney began working for the Labour Party just before the 2001 General Election. In 2006, he crafted a remarkable campaign strategy for the local elections in London's Lambeth borough, which helped Steve Reed, now the environment secretary, become the council leader. McSweeney has been a key player in Labour's victories for over two decades. In fact, according to Anushka Asthana's book Taken As Red, he was the mastermind behind the party's success in the 2014 local elections. By focusing on key wards, McSweeney led the party to victory with a streamlined and efficient approach.
When it comes to the General Election, McSweeney's role was just as crucial. In 2024, he served as Labour's director of campaigns and used data-driven strategies to secure a landslide victory for the party, even though they received half a million fewer votes than in the 2019 General Election where they lost 60 seats. McSweeney worked closely with his ally Pat McFadden, who was the election coordinator and is now the all-powerful Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Together, they are credited with delivering Labour's extraordinary victory.
But McSweeney's influence in the Labour Party goes beyond just election campaigns. He has been involved in internal party politics for years and was a key figure in Labour Together, a think tank that aimed to remove Jeremy Corbyn as the party leader and steer the party towards the political center. When Corbyn resigned after the 2019 election, McSweeney supported Keir Starmer to take over as the new leader. After Starmer's victory, McSweeney was chosen as his chief of staff and quickly restructured the party by removing Corbyn loyalists from positions of power.
On a personal note, McSweeney is married to Imogen Walker, who was recently elected as the MP for Hamilton and Clyde Valley in Scotland. They first met during the Lambeth campaign, where Walker was running as a councillor while also pursuing a career as a professional actor. She won the election and later served as the deputy leader of the council. The couple has a son and a home in the Scottish town of Lanark.
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