Prime Minister Keir Starmer has publicly backed Health Secretary Wes Streeting while condemning what he called "completely unacceptable" anonymous briefings from Downing Street aides, as Labour faces explosive internal warfare over leadership speculation.
No 10's 'Juvenile' Briefing War Erupts
The political crisis erupted overnight with a flurry of anonymous briefings from senior Downing Street aides suggesting Sir Keir Starmer could face a leadership challenge following the upcoming Budget in two weeks' time. Among those touted as potential replacements were Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
Speaking during a fiery Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir declared that "any attack on any member of my Cabinet is completely unacceptable" and insisted the health secretary was doing a "great job" in turning around the NHS.
However, the Prime Minister notably declined to explicitly express confidence in his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, when questioned by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, though Number 10 later indicated he still had faith in his senior aide.
Streeting Dismisses 'Silly Season' Speculation
At the NHS Providers conference in Manchester, Mr Streeting addressed the leadership rumours head-on, describing the overnight briefings as "juvenile" and "bizarre." The health secretary categorically denied plotting to oust Sir Keir and called for those briefing against him to be sacked.
"The bizarre thing about some juvenile briefing overnight is that it's some people in No 10 that have said the prime minister is fighting for his job," Mr Streeting told reporters. "I don't think that's a helpful or constructive thing to say, I also don't think it's true."
When questioned about previous comments where he expressed desire to become prime minister one day, Mr Streeting batted away the speculation, stating: "I've got a hard job already, so I'm quite enjoying doing this, and I'm thank you very much." He added he wouldn't say anything that "adds to the silly season that is going down."
Badenoch Pounces on Labour Disarray
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch seized on the internal Labour turmoil during PMQs, accusing Sir Keir of having "lost control of his Government, he's lost the confidence of his party, and lost the trust of the British people."
Mrs Badenoch listed what she described as a series of government failures, including tax rises, unemployment levels "not seen since lockdown," and what she characterised as a "weak Prime Minister at war with his own Cabinet."
The Prime Minister hit back, blaming "14 long years" of Conservative government for breaking the economy and dismissing Tory claims as "unserious."
Culture Clash at Heart of Government
The briefing war has exposed apparent tensions within Starmer's Downing Street operation, with some commentators suggesting the attempt to "kneecap" Mr Streeting's ambitions had backfired, instead anointing him as a credible successor.
Downing Street refused to be drawn on suggestions of a toxic culture at the heart of government, though the Prime Minister's press secretary insisted there were "fantastic women at the very top of Government" when questioned about sexism concerns.
The crisis comes at a critical moment for the Labour government, with the Budget just two weeks away and backbench discontent growing over the party's direction. The Prime Minister's press secretary maintained that Sir Keir "engages regularly" with the Parliamentary Labour Party and would continue to do so in the crucial period ahead.
As the internal warfare continues to dominate Westminster, all eyes now turn to the upcoming Budget, which could determine whether the leadership speculation becomes a full-blown crisis or subsides as the government focuses on its economic agenda.
