The News Agents

The most powerful man in politics - who is Morgan McSweeney?

Oct 11, 2024
Morgan McSweeney, Keir Starmer's chief of staff and architect of Labour's election victory, shares insights into his pivotal role in British politics. He discusses his background in West Cork and the strategies that helped revitalize the Labour Party. McSweeney emphasizes the need for the centre-left to address real voter concerns amidst the rise of far-right populism. He also explores the evolving dynamics between leadership, accountability, and the necessity for adaptability in a rapidly changing political landscape.
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ANECDOTE

McSweeney's Unlikely Path

  • Morgan McSweeney, from a small Irish town, worked on building sites and a kibbutz before entering British politics.
  • His early Labour campaigns included the Brent East by-election loss after the Iraq War.
INSIGHT

McSweeney's Core Belief

  • McSweeney believes Labour loses touch with core voters by focusing too much on internal ideology.
  • He demonstrated this in Lambeth by prioritizing local issues like broken street lamps, leading to an unexpected Labour win.
ANECDOTE

McSweeney's Communication Style

  • McSweeney constantly communicates through phone calls, gathering diverse perspectives.
  • He is known for thinking creatively and learning from past experiences, even failures.
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