Because unlike almost all relationships between prime minister and adviser, Sir Keir did not choose McSweeney – it was arguably the other way around.
In the Corbyn years when control of Labour had been lost to the left, McSweeney polled party members and decided that the lawyer and shadow Brexit secretary was his best chance for wrestling back control of his party.
In what some claim was an elaborate and perfectly-executed deception, McSweeney managed to persuade pro-Corbyn party members that Sir Keir was one of them.
And after winning the leadership, Sir Keir purged many Corbynites – including the former leader himself – and pivoted to a more centrist general election pitch.
McSweeney’s work at Labour HQ during the 2001 election and later in local government shaped his campaigning instincts.
In an echo of Boris Johnson’s adviser Dominic Cummings, McSweeney is credited with masterminding a general election landslide yet blamed for turbulence and U-turns once in government.
He is also accused of presiding over a “boys’ club” atmosphere at No 10, with some MPs now suggesting a full cultural reset is needed rather than just one change of personnel.
Starmer’s decision to appoint McSweeney’s deputies – Jill Cuthbertson and Vidhya Alakeson – to be his joint successors on an acting basis may start this process.
Some allies of the deposed chief of staff are angry, pointing out that there are other prominent advisers who also recommended Lord Mandelson yet remain in their jobs.
