A dramatic power struggle has erupted at the highest levels of the Labour government, exposing deep fractures between Prime Minister Keir Starmer, his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
The Political Assault That Backfired
In an extraordinary move that stunned Westminster, allies of Prime Minister Keir Starmer launched a full-frontal attack on Health Secretary Wes Streeting, accusing him of leading an advanced plot to replace Starmer as party leader. The decision to publicly target Streeting came just hours before he was scheduled to appear on morning broadcast rounds, a timing many insiders viewed as deliberately confrontational.
The strategy appeared to backfire spectacularly as Streeting delivered what observers described as an assured performance, deftly handling the accusations with a reference to his critics having watched too much Celebrity Traitors and suggesting they switch to Countryfile instead. Rather than appearing weakened, the health secretary emerged strengthened from the confrontation, with Labour MPs and aides largely united in the view that the attack had ultimately positioned him more favourably.
Relationships Under Strain
The briefing war has thrown a harsh spotlight on the complex personal relationships between three of Labour's most senior figures: Starmer, McSweeney, and Streeting. Conventional wisdom in Westminster had long suggested that Starmer served as a vehicle for McSweeney's political project to wrest control of the Labour party from the hard left, positioning the leader as a Neil Kinnock-style figure who would eventually hand power to Streeting.
However, recent developments have driven a significant rift between Starmer and McSweeney, with many now questioning how long the chief of staff can survive in his position. McSweeney has become something of a bogeyman for numerous ministers and MPs who blame him for poor decisions and question both his judgment and his ability to effectively run the government.
The decision to attack Streeting represents the latest in a series of contentious moves that have damaged McSweeney's standing. As one government aide pointedly remarked about the strategy: "From a 'strategic big brain' point of view – how did you think this was going to go? That Wes Streeting, of all people, would crumble on the morning round?"
Mounting Tensions and Competing Theories
Several competing theories circulate about when Starmer's strategists decided to publicly denounce leadership plots. Some insiders point to early November leaving drinks for senior aide Matt Faulding as a "fever pitch" moment for leadership speculation. Allies of the prime minister have been on high alert for weeks, expressing concerns that any leadership challenge would worsen Britain's already perilous economic situation.
What remains clear is that mounting fears of an imminent challenge were shared with Starmer over the weekend, leading to a coordinated decision to smoke out any potential challengers. Some senior strategists argue the intention wasn't to place the entire onus on Streeting but to demonstrate that Starmer retained plenty of fighting spirit. To outside observers, however, the move appeared as a paranoid overreaction.
Relations between Starmer and McSweeney are said to have faltered since the prime minister's controversial "island of strangers" speech, from which he has since publicly resiled. Starmer was reportedly shaken by criticism from friends outside politics about language that some MPs said echoed Enoch Powell. This marked the point when the prime minister reportedly became convinced he had been badly advised, with McSweeney's team having pushed for tougher immigration language.
As one Number 10 source acknowledged: "Many people have tried to drive a wedge between Keir and Morgan and it has always failed. But this feels different." The future of these crucial relationships will likely determine the stability of Labour's leadership in the coming months.
