Keir Starmer aide proposed Downing Street think tank shielded from scrutiny

Key facts

• Morgan McSweeney, former chief of staff to Keir Starmer, proposed a Downing Street think tank.
• The proposed think tank would be separate from government and shielded from scrutiny.
• McSweeney believes high scrutiny prevents strategic thinking and the inclusion of creative minds in government.
• He cited Freedom of Information Act requests as a barrier to open thought.
• McSweeney also criticized technological limitations in Downing Street, including restrictions on large language models and Google apps.
• He stated he secured the right for staff to copy and paste text on government devices.

Morgan McSweeney, who served as chief of staff to ex-Prime Minister Keir Starmer, proposed the creation of a Downing Street think tank that would operate outside the usual government scrutiny. Speaking at a private event in London on Tuesday, McSweeney stated that he believed it was "impossible" for No. 10 to be strategic under current conditions.

He argued that the high level of scrutiny applied to government prevents "difficult thoughts" and the involvement of "creative minds" due to concerns about their views being subject to Freedom of Information requests. McSweeney suggested that this environment "starved" the government of strategic thinking.

McSweeney, who previously ran the influential Labour Together group, also voiced frustration with technological limitations within Downing Street. He noted that staff cannot use non-state-approved large language models or Google apps on government devices, which he believes hinders productivity. He also claimed to have successfully fought for the right for Downing Street staff to "copy and paste" text on government devices.

McSweeney also commented on the broader structure of government, suggesting that too much power has been delegated to "arm's-length bodies," weakening the central government. He indicated that the "center" of government is "too weak" and should be strengthened, noting that the "new prime minister was right to make the cabinet secretary stronger in the center."