A senior government minister has vehemently denied orchestrating a campaign of negative briefings against the Health Secretary, dismissing the claims as 'total nonsense'.
Claims of 'Perverse' Westminster Culture
The row erupted after weekend reports suggested Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones was behind anonymous criticisms of Health Secretary Wes Streeting. The allegations come amid wider concerns about a culture of internal briefing within the government.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle, described by Mr Streeting as his best friend in the Cabinet, had earlier spoken to the Press Association about his frustration. He criticised the 'perverse' incentives in Westminster that sometimes reward colleagues for briefing against rivals, rather than focusing on their departmental duties.
Jones's Blunt Dismissal of Allegations
When directly questioned by Sky News on Tuesday 20 January 2026 about whether he was responsible for the briefing, Darren Jones was unequivocal. 'That's total nonsense,' he stated.
Mr Jones suggested the story was a rehash of a previous failed attempt to undermine the Health Secretary. 'Someone tried this story a couple of weeks ago... and it didn't land. They have had a second go, and it must have been a slow news day,' he remarked.
He added a pointed message for the unnamed source: 'Whoever is spending their time briefing out these stories, they should either get on with the job, or get out.'
Streeting's Position and Leadership Speculation
The controversy sits against a backdrop of speculation about the future of the Labour leadership. Wes Streeting is widely seen as a potential successor to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and reports of Cabinet-level disagreements over his position have circulated for weeks.
This was amplified by a recent story in The Times, which quoted three unnamed Cabinet ministers criticising Mr Streeting and even suggesting Sir Keir should sack him for disloyalty. Allies of both Mr Jones and Mr Streeting have denied any involvement in such briefings.
In his defence of the Health Secretary, Peter Kyle praised Mr Streeting's record, stating: 'Wes is doing that [delivering in his day job] and I think that is the model that should be rewarded into the future.' His comments highlight the ongoing tension between frontbench performance and the internal manoeuvring that often characterises high-level politics.
