Morgan McSweeney calls for rethink of cabinet ministers’ ‘quasi-judicial’ powers

Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff also says the ‘thicket of rules’ about how PMs operate should be cleared away

Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, has called for a rethink of “quasi-judicial” powers given to cabinet ministers such as the energy secretary’s ability to approve future oil and gas fields.

McSweeney, who helped propel Starmer to power and served as his chief of staff until February this year, said he believed “quasi-judicial processes” were stopping wider cabinet discussions and input from the prime minister on issues of national importance.

He did not give specific examples, but one of the key quasi-judicial decisions under Starmer included Ed Miliband’s role in determining the future of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields, which were subsequently put in the…