51 h. ago Starmer defies calls to sack chief of staff, claiming briefing didn’t come from No 10

PM is standing by chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, despite calls to sack himKeir Starmer has attempted to draw a line under extraordinary briefings by his allies that No 10 feared Wes Streeting could launch a leadership coup, insisting he had been reassured it “didn’t come from Downing Street”.The prime minister gathered his senior staff to stress that briefings against cabinet ministers were “unacceptable” after apologising to Streeting for what had happened on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Politics

53 h. ago Starmer can’t afford to sack McSweeney, MPs say as new year coup rumours swirl

The prime minister says he has been ‘assured’ nobody in Downing Street briefed against his health secretary amid claims chief of staff Morgan McSweeney is ‘unsackable’

Politics

60 h. ago Starmer’s shambles in No 10 risks handing power to Farage, Alastair Campbell warns

Tony Blair’s former director of communications intervention comes as the PM comes under pressure to sack his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney

Events

61 h. ago Keir Starmer 'will sack No10 aide' but faces major problem (he's not sure who it is)

The Energy Secretary Ed Miliband claimed the PM 'hates' negative briefings, and would sack whoever started the row over his leadership if he could find out who it was

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61 h. ago Keir Starmer 'will sack No10 aide' behind chaos but faces major problem

The Energy Secretary Ed Miliband claimed the PM 'hates' negative briefings, and would sack whoever started the row over his leadership if he could find out who it was

Events

61 h. ago Ed Miliband urges Labour to move on after Starmer apologises to Streeting for hostile briefings from No 10 – UK politics live

Fallout from extraordinary briefing operation against Wes Streeting continues as calls grow for Starmer to sack his chief of staff Morgan McSweeneyGood morning. In an interview around this time yesterday morning, Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said that if Keir Starmer were to ring him about the anti-Streeting briefing by Starmer allies reported by the Guardian and others on Tuesday, Streeting would reply: “Why are you bothering with this.” It was an attempt to play down a new episode of Labour turmoil that has turned out to counter-productive for Starmer, but helpful for Streeting, and by the time the two men did speak last night, the conversation took a different tone.Starmer apologised to Streeting, journalists have been told. The conversation was short, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under pressure to sack. The pair also agreed they would speak again soon – which doesn’t mean much (they both attend cabinet, and have...

Politics

3 d. ago Pressure grows on Starmer to sack chief of staff over briefing row

Growing calls for Morgan McSweeney to go after extraordinary briefing operation against Wes StreetingKeir Starmer is coming under intense pressure from a wide range of ministers and MPs to sack his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, after No 10 was accused of an extraordinary briefing operation against the health secretary, Wes Streeting.Starmer is understood to have told MPs he will not sack his chief of staff and would not respond to several demands to ensure there were “consequences” for the briefers. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: battle for Pokrovsk ‘raging on’ as Russia claims advance on town to east

Kyiv says Moscow’s forces carrying out ‘fast manoeuvres’ in push for key city, while sides give conflicting reports of combat around Myrnohrad. What we know on day 1,357See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverage Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Possible Loch Ness Monster sighting as dark shape spotted rising from water's surface

The man visiting Loch Ness claims he briefly saw a dark shape in the water for around 30 seconds, before it vanished back into the depths.

Politics

2 w. ago Friday’s briefing: Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim laughs off Sean Dyche’s claims

Under-fire Arne Slot does not believe Liverpool’s sixth loss in seven matches has increased the pressure on him.

Politics

3 w. ago New York City mayoral debate live: Mamdani, Sliwa and Cuomo trade jabs over Israel, rent and Trump

Candidates come out swinging as they vie for New Yorkers’ votes in final debate“It’s us versus them,” Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate, says in his brief opening statement, in which he claims that he is the true representative of New Yorkers.Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor, begins by urging the Knicks to win, and then pivots to attacking “my main opponent”, Zohran Mamdani. Continue reading...

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3 w. ago New York City mayoral debate live: Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa face off for final time

The two-hour debate is likely to focus on public safety, cost of living, housing and Trump “It’s us versus them,” Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate, says in his brief opening statement, in which he claims that he is the true representative of New Yorkers.Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor, begins by urging the Knicks to win, and then pivots to attacking “my main opponent”, Zohran Mamdani. Continue reading...

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