Cast of Characters

Abbott, Diane: the left-wing Member of Parliament for Hackney North and Stoke Newington and the first black woman elected to the Houses of Parliament. Served in the Shadow Cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn from 2015 to 2020.

Ahmed, Imran: originally a Labour Party staffer who worked in the offices of Andy Slaughter, Hillary Benn and Angela Eagle, Ahmed would work closely with Morgan McSweeney, Steve Reed and the Labour Together project to create the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) and the Stop Funding Fake News campaign. Currently the CEO of CCDH.

Akehurst, Luke: long-time stalwart campaigner on the right-wing of the Labour Party with pro-Israel views. Served as a director of We Believe in Israel and played an influential role in the Blairite Labour First group. Elected to the Party’s NEC in 2020 under the Labour to Win banner. Selected by his NEC colleagues to run for the safe seat of Durham North, which he won in the 2024 General Election.

Barros-Curtis, Alex: chief of compliance for Keir Starmer’s leadership bid. Sole director of Movement for Another Future, the company set up to run Starmer’s leadership bid, from 2019 to date. Brefly served in the Leader of the Opposition’s Office after Starmer’s leadership victory until being promoted to Director of Legal Affairs, in which role he was at the coalface of the Starmer Project’s battles against the Labour Party left-wing. Selected to represent Labour in the safe seat of Cardiff West in the days after the announcement of the 2024 General Election, and now currently serving as its MP.

Chinn, Trevor (Sir): wealthy businessman and long-time funder of right-wing Labour candidates and causes. Generously funded both Labour Together and Sir Keir Starmer during his 2020 leadership bid. Long history in working with pro-Israel groups, including as Vice President of the Jewish Leadership Council and as a member of the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM). Reported to be a funder of Labour Friends of Israel. Company director of Labour Together from March 2016 to September 2024.

Cruddas, Jon: Labour Party Member of Parliament for Dagenham (and its successor constituencies) between 2001 and 2024. Founding member of Labour Together, of which he served as a company director from 2016 to January 2023.

Corbyn, Jeremy: The left-wing Member of Parliament for Islington North from 1983. Leader of the Labour Party from 2015 to 2020. Corbyn held his seat in Islington North as a Labour MP until 2020, when the labour Party Whip was withdrawn by Starmer. Elected in 2024 as the independent MP for Islington North.

Downes, Steven: old-school pound-the-pavement journalist and editor of Inside Croydon. Investigated and reported on the serial dysfunction of the Labour Party’s administration of the borough, many of whose figures were closely aligned with Steve Reed MP. Party files show that Reed had repeatedly attempted to derail Downes career in the Labour Party by claiming that his damning investigations into Reed’s allies amounted to disinformation and misogyny. Downes’ Inside Croydon email was hacked in 2021. The hacked emails were distributed by Party staffers and received by Steve Reed. The Party used the hacked emails to identify and censure Inside Croydon’s confidential sources.

Evans, David: Assistant General Secretary of the Labour Party from 1999 to 2001, after which he established his political polling and consultancy outfit, The Campaign Company. Appointed General Secretary of the Party in 2020 under Starmer, which position he held until September 2024. A close associate and political ally of Morgan McSweeney and Steve Reed.

Faulding, Matt: Labour Party staffer appointed by Starmer in 2023 to oversee MP candidate selections, which were criticised for excluding candidates not strictly alligned to the Starmer leadership. Reportedly close to Morgan McSweeney.

Formby, Jennie: General Secretary of the Labour Party from 2018 to 2020 considered to be close to Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party left-wing. Stepped down as General Secretary at the request of Sir Keir Starmer, who made the request on the day he was elected Leader of the Labour Party.

Forde, Martin (KC): well-respected barrister who was appointed in 2020 by the Party to lead an investigation into allegations of factionalism, racism and sexism put forward in the so-called ‘Leaked Report.’ The report of this investigation (the Forde Report) was published in July 2022 after considerable delays. Forde has been critical of the Party’s handling of matters raised in the report.

Gordstein, David: the fake Jewish-sounding persona created by Euan Phillips, a leading member and spokesperson of the controversial pressure group Labour Against Antisemitism (LAAS). Phillips has admitted to creating the Gordstein persona but that he ‘never claimed to be Jewish when doing so.’ Party files show that the Gordstein persona was used to make multiple complaints of antisemitism against Jewish Labour Party members.

Heneghan, Patrick: Executive Director of Elections, Campaigns and Organisation the Labour Party from March 2011 to October 2017. Opposed to the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn alongside many of his contemporary senior Party managers. Criticised in the Forde Report for unprofessional comments made towards Labour Party MPs, including Dianne Abbott and Party colleagues .A central player in the ‘Ergon House Scheme’ in which Labour Party election funds were diverted, without the knowledge of the Labour Party Leader’s Office, to allies of the Party’s right-wing bureaucracy during the 2017 General Election.

Long-Bailey, Rebecca: left-wing Member of Parliament for Salford from 2015 to date. Unsuccessfully challenged for leadership of the Labour Party in 2020, losing to Keir Starmer. Briefly served in Starmer’s first Shadow Cabinet but sacked after sharing an interview with actress Maxine Peake that was accused of being antisemitic.

Mahmood, Shabana: Labour Party Member of Parliament for Birmingham Ladywood since 2010. Although never a formal director, Mahmood has long been connected to Labour Together. Appointed to a range of shadow Cabinet positions while Starmer led in opposition. Mahmood, serving on the NEC, was the mover of the 2023 motion, seconded by Starmer, that determined that Jeremy Corbyn would not be allowed to stand as a Labour MP despite retaining his Labour Party membership. Appointed Secretary of State for Justice by Starmer in July 2024 and Home Office Secretary in 2025.

Matthews, Sam: Labour Party bureaucrat who records show was fiercely opposed to the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn. Revealed by the Leaked Report and Party files to be a key player in the Ergon House scheme that diverted Party resources to right-wing Labour Party MPs without the knowledge of the Labour Party leadership during the 2017 General Election.

McLuskey, Len: General Secretary of Unite the Union between 2013 and 2021 and prominent supporter of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. Published a tell-all book in 2021 that was fiercely critical of Keir Starmer.

McNicol, Iain: the General Secretary of the Labour Party from 2011 to 2018. Revealed by the Leaked Report and Party files to have been firmly opposed to the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn. Revealed by the Leaked Report and Party files to be a key player in the Ergon House scheme that diverted Party resources to right-wing Labour Party MPs without the knowledge of the Labour Party leadership during the 2017 General Election. Participant in an infamous 2017 Whatsapp group alongside other anti-Corbyn senior Labour Party managers that was heavily criticised for its unprofessional, puerile and discriminatory content. Appointed to the House of Lords in 2018.

McSweeney, Morgan: An absolutely central player in the elevation of Sir Keir Starmer from MP to Prime Minister of the UK via his role in the Labour Together and Starmer projects. Served as company secretary of Labour Together from 2017 to April 2020, in which period he failed in this role to report over £700,000 in donations to Labour Together in violation of electoral law. Directed the use of these resources to run secret campaigns to undermine the credibility of the left-wing of the Labour Party. Worked alongside Steve Reed MP and Imran Ahmed to form the Center for Countering Digital Hate and the highly problematic astroturf Stop Funding Fake News (SFFN) campaign, the latter of which falsely accused left-wing and pro-Corbyn media outlets like The Canary of producing ‘fake news’, and which led to the financial ‘eviscerat[ion]’ of The Canary. Directed Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership campaign in 2020. Served as the company director of CCDH and its predecessor entity (Brixton Endeavours) between October 2018 and April 2020, and thus inclusive of the period in which he ran Starmer’s 2020 leadership bid. Appointed Chief of Staff in the Leader of the Oppositions office in April 2020, but moved into the role of campaign director in 2021 following Labour’s defeat in the Hartlepool by-election. Considered central to the Party’s campaign to exclude and purge the Party of pro-Corbyn or left-wing elements, and said to have considerable influence over the selection of all Labour Party MP candidates for the 2024 General Election. Appointed Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Keir Starmer in October 2024 following the ousting of Sue Gray. Described by Andrew Marr as the single most powerful man in Labour Party history.

Mills, Simon: Long-serving Executive Director of Finance of the Labour Party until his departure in 2023. Revealed by the Leaked Report and Party files to have approved the diversion of Labour Party resources to right-wing Labour Party MPs without the knowledge of the Corbyn leadership and campaign team during the 2017 General Election.

Murphy, Karie: Executive Director in the Leader of the Opposition’s office under Jeremy Corbyn from 2016 to 2020. Sued by the Party who accused her of being one of five people responsible for leaking the ‘Leaked Report’ in April 2020, a claim she denied. The Party withdrew the case against Murphy and her co-accused in a settlement in 2024.

Nandy, Lisa: Labour Party MP for Wigan since 2010. Company director of Labour Together from March 2016 to February 2023. Unsuccessfully challenged to become leader of the Labour Party in 2020, losing to Starmer. Appointed to a number of Shadow Cabinet positions by Starmer between 2020 and 2024. Appointed Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by Prime Minister Starmer in July 2024.

Nichols, Wendy: Long-time member of the Labour Party NEC as a representative of Unison. Elected to chair the influential NEC ‘organisational’ sub-committee (‘org sub’) in 2021. Generally seen as pro-Starmer, Nichols was involved in a number of controversial deselections including the deselection of Anna Rothery as Liverpool Mayoral candidate in 2020 and the Labour Party’s last-minute decision to bar Faiza Shaheen from standing as a Labour Party MP in 2024.

Oldknow, Emilie: Senior Labour bureaucrat closely linked to the anti-Corbyn Labour Party machinery, including as Executive Director of Governance, Membership and Party Services between March 2012 and June 2018.  Married to Labour Party MP (and future Labour Together CEO) Jonathan Ashworth. Participant in an infamous 2017 Whatsapp group alongside other anti-Corbyn senior Labour Party managers that was heavily criticised for its unprofessional, puerile and discriminatory content.

Perry, Joseph: Director of Human Resources and Safeguarding at the Labour Party between June 2019 and June 2021.

Pound, Matt: A well-known campaigner on the right-wing of the Labour Party, including as the national organiser of anti-Corbyn Labour First from January 2017 to January 2020. Deputy Field Director for Sir Keir Starmer’s 2020 leadership campaign, following which appointed to multiple roles in the Labour Party with a focus on campaigning and strategy. Considered close to Morgan McSweeney and reported to have influence over the selection of Labour’s 2024 General Election MP candidates. Appointed political secretary to Chancellor Rachel Reeves in July 2024.

Rayner, Angela: Labour Party Member of Parliament for Ashton-Under-Lyne since 2015 broadly associated with the ‘soft-left’ of the Party. Elected Deputy Leader of the Labour Party in 2020. Deputy Prime Minister of the UK since July 2024. Resigned in September 2025 following questions surrounding the tax arrangements related to the purchase of a property in Brighton.

Reed, Steve: Labour Party Member of Parliament for Steatham and Croydon North (and its predecessor constituencies) since 2012, prior to which he was the leader of Lambeth Council. Long-time political ally of Morgan McSweeney and David Evans. Director of Labour Together from March 2016 to March 2023. Worked closely with McSweeney to use Labour Together to incubate secret projects designed to undermine the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party left-wing generally, including collaborating in the creation of the Center for Countering Digital Hate and the Stop Funding Fake News campaign. A member of the so-called Arlington Group that, from 2018, was meeting with Starmer to conceptualise a future Starmer leadership bid. Appointed to various senior Shadow Cabinet positions by Starmer. Appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in July 2024, and as Secretary of State for Housing in 2025.

Reeves, Rachel: Labour Party Member of Parliament for Leeds West and Pudsey (and its predecessor constituencies) since 2010. Reported to be one of eight ‘brave’ MPs that worked to create Labour Together. Appointed as Shadow Chancellor by Starmer in 2021. Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in July 2024, becoming the first female occupant of the role.

Riley, Rachel: presenter of the Countdown quiz show. Approached by Morgan McSweeney and Imran Ahmed in February 2019 to front their Stop Funding Fake News campaign, which launched the following month. Subsequently a patron and ambassador for the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), created by Imran Ahmed and Morgan McSweeney.

Simons, Josh: Member of Parliament for Makerfield since July 2024. Director of Labour Together from November 2022 to November 2024, becoming its most notable public spokesperson from late 2023 onwards. Selected for the safe seat of Makerfield by the Labour Party’s NEC without a vote from the local Constituency Labour Party. Copied into emails related to Labour Together’s hiring of a reputation management firm to conduct investigations into The Fraud’s author, Paul Holden.

Starmer, Keir: Labour Party Member of Parliament for Holborn & St Pancras since 2015. Elected leader of the Labour Party in April 2020. Elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in July 2024.

Streeting, Wes: Labour Party Member of Parliament for Ilord North since 2015. Reported to be one of eight ‘brave’ MPs responsible for the success of Labour Together.  Appointed to a series of Shadow Cabinet roles by Starmer between 2020 and 2024. Appointed the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care by Starmer in July 2024.

Taylor, Martin: a wealthy hedge fund manager and long-time donor to right-wing and centrist Labour Party MPs. Labour Together’s largest donor in the period between 2017 and 2020. Donated £3.3m to Labour Together between October 2015 and September 2024.

Trickett, Jon: Labour Party Member of Parliament for Hemsworth since 1996. Member of the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs.

Ware, John: Documentary film-maker and journalist who directed the influential Panorama documentary, ‘Is the Labour Party antisemitic’ in 2019. Ware sued the Labour Party in 2019 for defamation for comments it made with regards to the documentary; the case was settled with Starmer’s approval the following year with apologies made to Ware.

Watson, Tom: Labour Party Member of Parliament for West Bromwich from 2001 to 2019. Elected Deputy Leader of the Labour Party between September 2015 and December 2019, in which role he acted as a node of resistance to the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn. Made a life peer as Baron Watson of Wyre Forest in 2022.