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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Knives out for 'the real deputy PM' as Sue Gray seeks revenge on the man who helped oust her, reveals ANDREW PIERCE
At a glitzy fundraising gala for one of Labour 's rising stars on Monday night, the mood was buoyant. The party faithful cheered speakers including Lord Mandelson, now ambassador to Washington, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones. Unusually, another figure who prefers to lurk in the shadows was spotted at the event, where tickets cost up to £200. Standing quietly to the side in the Ev Turkish restaurant in Southwark was Morgan McSweeney, 48, the No 10 chief of staff. Labour insiders tell me that McSweeney is the real Deputy Prime Minister, wielding far more clout than the hapless Angela Rayner, who carries that title 'in name only'. Perhaps McSweeney's attendance was unsurprising. After all, the purpose of the event was to raise money for his wife: Imogen Walker, the Labour member for Hamilton and Clyde Valley. She became an MP only at last year's election, but is already rising fast. She is parliamentary private secretary to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, so McSweeney has eyes and ears in the heart of the Treasury as well as at No 10. Today, as Labour's civil war escalates over the Government's plan to cut billions from the ballooning disability benefits bill, McSweeney's unshakeable grip on the party machine – and his reputation as one of the canniest operators in Westminster – appears to be collapsing. Yesterday, reports emerged that unnamed Labour MPs have been demanding 'regime change' in No 10 – and the ousting of Starmer's team of 'over-excitable boys'. One authoritative source tells me: 'What they mean by 'regime change' is 'sack McSweeney'. We haven't even got to the Government's first anniversary next week but the No 10 kitchen cabinet already has bunker mentality. Morgan has been semi-detached from the benefits row, which is hugely damaging.' This very point was underlined by Starmer on Wednesday at the Nato summit in Holland. The PM waved away the benefits row – which could yet see a sensational defeat for his government despite its vast majority of 165 – as 'noises off'. This airy dismissal saw the number of rebels swell to almost 130, among them, crucially, 14 select committee chairmen: senior MPs immune to the usual threats and blandishments from party whips. The opponents need only 83 MPs to scupper the Bill and inflict a humiliating defeat on Starmer next week. A second source tells me: 'Keir seems more exercised by managing relations with Donald Trump than he is with his own backbenchers.' Once again, insiders point to the hand of McSweeney. In February, he was photographed sitting near Starmer in the White House when the PM met Trump. My source adds: 'McSweeney thinks 'Starmer the international statesman' plays well with voters. But what voters actually see is: Keir's never here.' Yesterday, research from the BBC showed that Starmer has voted in the Commons on fewer occasions in his first year as PM than all his recent predecessors (excluding Liz Truss's brief tenure): just seven times, barely half the record managed by runner-up Tony Blair. Boris Johnson came top with 57. As the welfare blame-game swirls, I can reveal that two sides are forming in the Downing Street bunker. In one corner is McSweeney, who I'm told is 'obsessed' with the threat posed by Reform after Nigel Farage's stunning recent successes in the local elections and the Runcorn by-election. In the other corner is Liz Lloyd, a Downing Street veteran and Starmer's 'director of policy delivery'. While Morgan worries about Reform, Lloyd wants more emphasis on economic growth and schools policy. Morgan sees cutting sickness benefits as playing well with Reform voters – but Labour MPs are unconvinced the policy is worth it. 'Team Morgan is in denial and in chaos,' says one furious party figure. 'They're making things worse, not better. It's one thing to shake up welfare to try to get millions of economically inactive people back into work – but this is targeting the sick and disabled. Keir has a tin ear because he's been listening to Morgan for too long.' Only yesterday, a YouGov poll, the most extensive since the general election, showed Labour on course to plunge from 411 MPs to 178 at the next election – with Reform roaring ahead to become the largest party on 271 seats. Starmer's personal rating is at a record low of minus 46 per cent. McSweeney cites such polls as vindication for his emphasis on fighting Reform – but his enemies say that Starmer, as a self-professed socialist, is never going to convince voters he's 'Farage-lite', and that Labour's best approach is instead to tack to the Left to see off the threat of the Greens and Lib Dems. Friends of McSweeney have told me there are rumours that the briefing against him is coming from Louise Haigh – sacked as Transport Secretary by Starmer last year and still smarting. McSweeney fired her in November after it emerged she had pleaded guilty to a fraud offence a decade earlier. Haigh is close to Baroness (Sue) Gray, who was ousted by McSweeney as chief of staff in October after just three months in the job. Gray, the former 'neutral' civil servant who helped defenestrate Boris Johnson during the 'Partygate' farrago – and who went on to sign up as a paid senior Labour official – was blamed for the ugly PR debacle over free suits and spectacles greedily accepted by Starmer and other senior Labour figures from donor Lord Alli. Many Labour MPs have convinced themselves that purple-haired Haigh was hard done by – and that 'macho' McSweeney went too far. Gray is said to be bitter on a personal level, too – and loathes McSweeney for orchestrating her early political demise. 'This is Lou and Sue's revenge on Morgan,' one senior female Labour adviser tells me. 'Sue will be wryly observing the unfolding chaos in the Downing Street machine, which she used to run, from her new perch in the Lords.' Labour ultra-grandee Tony Blair, too, is said to be privately critical of McSweeney's approach. The buck, however, ultimately stops not with McSweeney, but with Starmer. The PM's critics say he lacks any serious political convictions or instincts, having entered Parliament in 2015 after decades as a human rights lawyer, and having run for the party leadership on a far-Left Corbynista ticket before tacking to the centre ground to woo Middle England at the election, before finally governing on an unoriginal Old Labour tax-and-spend playbook. Starmer likes to think of McSweeney as his political barometer – yet the equipment seems increasingly faulty. According to party lore, Irishman McSweeney – who came to Britain aged 17 – was on a placement to Labour's Millbank HQ a few days before the 2001 general election when a receptionist dropped a vase on her foot and had to be signed off work. McSweeney, the story goes, was asked to step in and man the desk – and has never looked back. (Interestingly, Lord Mandelson, who was a fixture at Labour HQ during the campaign, has no recollection of the 24-year-old manning the reception desk – and to this day, several members of Blair's Cabinet are bewildered by McSweeney's rise.) Regardless, he eventually made his name running Labour Together: a think-tank set up to engineer the end of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership during the 2010s. After Corbyn led his party to its worst election defeat since 1935 in 2019, McSweeney moved effortlessly to Starmer's side, with the new leader appointing him as his chief of staff. At Monday night's fundraiser, thousands of pounds were raised for Imogen Walker's constituency work. Yet it may all be for little: yesterday's doom-laden poll predicts she will lose her Commons seat at the next election. If the rumbles of discontent over the No 10 operation grow louder still, it may be that McSweeney is out of a job even sooner than his wife – and you can be sure that Blair's former adviser Liz Lloyd will happily take his place.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Moment thug who killed 'gentle' engineer with one punch after 'brushing together' on the Tube is arrested - as fury grows over 'inadequate' prison sentence that could see him released in six years
This is the moment a Tube passenger was arrested after killing a commuter who 'brushed past' him with a single punch. Rakeem Miles, 24, grabbed 'gentle' AI engineer Samuel Winter from behind with such force he tore his top in two before punching him once in the head, sending him tumbling to the floor. The brutal assault left Mr Winter fatally injured, dying in hospital two days after the attack. Miles ultimately pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He is now serving an eight-year sentence - but could be out on the streets in five and a half years. Campaigners are calling for the sentence to be revisited, branding it 'simply inadequate'. The pair had been travelling on separate carriages on the Jubilee line before disembarking at Southwark Underground station at around 9.30pm on August 22 last year. As they left the station, Mr Winter 'brushed past' Miles and continued walking. Miles stopped in his tracks for a second before following after Mr Winter, shouting after him - before grabbing him by his top and throwing a single, powerful punch which connected with the tech worker's head with such force he collapsed. The thug then fled from the scene as he left his victim - who had not interacted with him beyond passing him in Southwark Underground station - fatally hurt on the stairs. Police worked rapidly to trace Miles as paramedics took Mr Winter to hospital with a critical brain injury. They quickly used Oyster card data to trace his top-ups back to a nearby shop. When officers arrived at the shop the next morning, a worker informed them that Miles had just left moments earlier - and they stormed down the street to arrest him on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. In video footage released by the British Transport Police, Miles can be seen being restrained by police officers in the street. He appears to make no attempt to resist and bows his head as he is handcuffed and led into a police van. The charge of GBH was elevated to murder after Mr Winter - described in tributes as 'gentle, kind and patient' - died on August 24, surrounded by his family. But Miles was cleared of murder by a jury in March - instead pleading guilty to a manslaughter, for which he was sentenced on Tuesday to eight years imprisonment with a further five years on licence. He must serve at least five and a half years before he will be eligible for parole, with no guarantee of release at that time. However, the apparent levity of the sentence has sparked anger and calls for a tougher sentence. Susan Hall, leader of City Hall Conservatives, told MailOnline: 'My heart breaks. Samuel Winter brushed past someone in a Tube station - something we all do, daily - and this heartless monster took his life. 'Samuel Winter will not go home to his family and friends, he will not go back to his job, he will not live out the rest of his life, tragically cut short as it was. '(Rakeem Miles) will do five years at a push before he walks free, without any remorse or consequences beyond that. There is no justice in it at all, and I despair that this is what London has come to. 'Make no mistake - any one of us could have been Samuel Winter. My thoughts are with his family.' Campaign group Crush Crime has submitted a request to the Attorney General's Office for a review of Miles' sentence. It said in its request: 'This was an unprovoked attack, with multiple stages at which Rakeem Miles could have chosen to stop. 'A sentence of 8 years (with five and a half years before he is eligible for parole) is simply inadequate for a remorseless killer that pursued his victim for an unprovoked attack. 'It is difficult to see why such a short sentence is justified or why it is important for Rakeem Miles to be potentially out on Britain's streets, walking past members of the public, in five and a half years time. The sentence must be revisited.' A spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office confirmed that they had received a request to review Miles' sentence. They added: 'We have received a request for this sentence to be considered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme. 'The Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case and make a decision.' An online CV suggests Mr Winter had been working in technology for a multinational medical firm, and had volunteered with a number of Christian organisations and as a physiotherapist. Online tributes described him as 'kind, intelligent, clever... and always ready to help those in need'. Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Paul Attwell said: 'Though nothing can bring Samuel back, I hope today's sentencing allows his family some small measure of comfort as they continue to grieve for him. 'Samuel's family described him as gentle and kind, and he will be sorely missed by all those who love him. We reiterate our requests to give the family privacy at such a difficult time. 'It only took one punch from Miles to end Samuel's life and forever change the lives of those around him. 'He showed no remorse for his action, leaving Samuel at the station and continuing on with his evening. 'The quick-time and thorough investigation by the teams involved meant Miles was identified and apprehended quickly. 'There is zero tolerance for violence on the railway and I'd like to thank my team for their hard work and determination to secure justice for Samuel's family.' In a heart-wrenching tribute, the victim's family said: 'Sam was a very much-loved son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew and friend. 'We are devastated his life here has ended. He was a qualified physiotherapist, AI engineer and a volunteer with several charities. 'His family and friends will remember him as gentle and kind, quick-witted and funny, with deep faith and an unendingly giving spirit.'
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Tube passenger, 23, who killed ‘gentle & kind' commuter, 28, with single punch after he brushed past him jailed for 8yrs
A TUBE passenger who killed a "gentle and kind" commuter with a single punch has been jailed for eight years. Rakeem Miles, 23, callously attacked Samuel Winter, 28, after he accidentally bumped into him on an escalator at Southwark underground station. 2 The tragedy, on August 22, was sparked at around 9.30pm when both men were travelling eastbound on the Jubilee line. In a completely unprovoked assault, Miles followed Samuel through the barriers, grabbed him and ripped his top. The 23-year-old then knocked the AI engineer to the floor with one punch to the head. He cowardly ran from the scene, leaving Samuel collapsed on the stairs, before emergency services arrived. Paramedics performed CPR and rushed the young man to hospital, where he was treated for a critical brain injury. He died two days later, surrounded by his family. British Transport Police officers located Miles by tracking his Oyster card and detained him at a shop near the station a day after the attack. Cops said Miles had given no thought to Samuel after the beating, "continuing on with his evening" as if nothing had happened. Miles, of East Street, Southwark, showed "no remorse" when he appeared at Inner London Crown Court. He denied but was convicted of manslaughter and Judge Benedict Kelleher sentenced him to eight years behind bars. Miles will also be subject to an extended licence period of five years. But the killer will be eligible for parole in less than five and a half years. In a heartbreaking tribute, the victim's family said: "Sam was a very much-loved son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew and friend. "We are devastated his life here has ended. He was a qualified physiotherapist, AI engineer and a volunteer with several charities. "His family and friends will remember him as gentle and kind, quick-witted and funny, with deep faith and an unendingly giving spirit." Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Paul Attwell added: "Though nothing can bring Samuel back, I hope today's sentencing allows his family some small measure of comfort as they continue to grieve for him. "Samuel's family described him as gentle and kind, and he will be sorely missed by all those who love him. "We reiterate our requests to give the family privacy at such a difficult time. "It only took one punch from Miles to end Samuel's life and forever change the lives of those around him. "He showed no remorse for his action, leaving Samuel at the station and continuing on with his evening. "The quick-time and thorough investigation by the teams involved meant Miles was identified and apprehended quickly. "There is zero tolerance for violence on the railway and I'd like to thank my team for their hard work and determination to secure justice for Samuel's family."
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Telegraph
Tube passenger killed commuter with single punch after he brushed past him
A Tube commuter was killed by a fellow passenger with a single punch in revenge for brushing past him on an escalator. Rakeem Miles, 23, knocked out Samuel Winter, 28, with a punch to the head at Southwark underground station in August last year. Mr Winter, an AI engineer, suffered a critical brain injury and died two days later in hospital. Miles was convicted of manslaughter at Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday but will serve just five and a half years of his eight-year sentence when he becomes eligible for parole. Mr Winter was making his way out of the station at 9.30pm on Aug 22 last year when he brushed past Miles on his way up the escalator. Miles then followed him and began to shout abuse before grabbing him from behind. He then inflicted a single blow to Mr Winter's head, which left him collapsed on the stairs. Miles fled the scene but was arrested by the British Transport Police at a shop near the same station the following morning, after his movements were tracked on his Oyster card. Miles denied manslaughter but was convicted and sentenced by Judge Benedict Kelleher to eight years imprisonment with an extended licence period of five years. He will serve less than five and a half years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. Mr Winter's parents, who they said had a 'deep faith', said they had 'unconditionally forgiven' Miles for his 'unprovoked and horrific assault'. They said: 'The pain of his loss is almost unbearable for us, his wider family, many friends and all the people in his community, whom he loved to help through his physiotherapy, service and personal generosity. 'We thank God, however, that his death isn't the end for us. We'll be reunited with Sam in heaven. There we'll have eternity to enjoy his company and all he is and does in the presence of our eternally loving, heavenly Father. 'That reality gives us huge hope today and will do tomorrow, until we're all together again in heaven. When we welcome God into our lives, our loving relationships are forever.' They added: 'We have unconditionally forgiven Rakeem. As followers of Jesus, we know this is the only way to freedom, peace and well-being in our hearts – to not harbour anger or bitterness. 'We and many others who knew and loved Sam, are inspired to make this world a better place by welcoming Holy Spirit to be with us and loving one another with the love He brings – just like Sam did and God wants us all to do. We welcome you to join us in doing the same.' Det Ch Insp Paul Attwell, the case's senior investigating officer, added: 'It only took one punch from Miles to end Samuel's life and forever change the lives of those around him. 'He showed no remorse for his action, leaving Samuel at the station and continuing on with his evening. The quick-time and thorough investigation by the teams involved meant Miles was identified and apprehended quickly.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This Newly Reconstructed Wall Painting Gives Us Rare Insight Into Roman London
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." After four years of reconstruction, the remains of a painted wall in Roman London, founded in AD 43, have a big story to tell. Since 2021, archaeologists from the The Museum of London Archaeology (Mola) have been trying to match thousands of pieces of the fallen fresco wall, believed to have come from a luxe villa. Found in Southwark, near the Thames River, it's one of three major discoveries in the same area that's currently being developed by Landsec in Southwark, according to the BBC. Among the finds is a mosaic floor—the largest of its kind found in the last 50 years. The floor patterns include a guilloche, Solomon's knot, flowers, and geometric patterns, thought to be the work of a known band of mosaicists, called the Acanthus group, who made a distinct style found in other unearthed works in Germany, suggesting that the band traveled. The floor panels were found along with a handful of objects associated with Romans of status. This, alongside the cemetery found at the same site, believed to be for wealthy Romans, leads archaeologists to see the story behind the reconstructed wall as one of Romans investing in Londinium. "There was this thriving, bustling settlement quite early on in the Roman period, and it's almost the kind of wealthy suburb—the Beverly Hills of Roman London," Andrew Henderson-Schwartz of Mola told the BBC. The patterns revealed after the plaster pieces were put in order by senior building material specialist Han Li and a team of experts show fruit, flowers painted with a rare, bright yellow, people, and instruments like the lyre. Perhaps most curiously, the word 'fecit' appears, which would roughly translate to 'has made this." Though the name that might have followed hasn't yet been uncovered, the team is hopeful. If and when it does, it will tell us who this nearly 2,000-year-old interiors painter to the Roman stars was. "The group or groups of painters responsible for creating these frescos took inspiration from wall decorations in other parts of the Roman world," writes Mola. "...These paintings were designed to show off both the wealth and excellent taste of the building's owner or owners." In another interesting turn, however, this wall, painted at some point after Londinium was founded and before AD 150, was torn down, according to Mola, by AD 200. "These beautiful frescoes once decorated around twenty internal walls of the building; however, the enormity of our find wasn't immediately obvious. That's because the decorated plaster was found dumped in a large pit, shattered in thousands of fragments—the result of Roman demolition works to clear the old building." Fashion, it seems, has always been fickle, and keeping up with it has always been paramount. You Might Also Like From the Archive: Tour Sarah Jessica Parker's Relaxed Hamptons Retreat 75 Small (But Mighty) Kitchens to Steal Inspiration from Right This Instant
