This Is Why Inside Number 10: Can Starmer survive?
10 snips
Feb 10, 2026 
Gavin Barwell, former chief of staff to Theresa May and now a Lord, shares insider memories of Downing Street life. He reflects on the pressure and emotional toll during crises. He breaks down why senior resignations matter and how the chief of staff role shapes a premiership. He also weighs whether Starmer can reset his operation and survive the current turmoil.
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Bunker Mentality In Downing Street
- A crisis creates a bunker mentality that swings between defiance and gloom as leaders realise they may have to step down.
- Gavin Barwell notes the last weeks are often bleak once the Prime Minister accepts their time is up.
Last Days Leaving Number 10
- Gavin Barwell felt he had failed in his role as Theresa May's chief of staff when she left Number 10.
- He describes the final exit as wandering away with colleagues and comparing it to leaving Narnia at the end of a book.
Chief Of Staff Departure Cuts Both Ways
- Losing a longtime political chief of staff can both give a PM a reset and leave them politically exposed.
- Barwell warns Morgan McSweeney's exit may buy Sir Keir time but also weakens him politically.