Female Labour MPs have expressed concern that women in the cabinet are bearing the brunt of anger over government decisions, with leaks and briefings targeting ministers such as Bridget Phillipson, Liz Kendall, and Yvette Cooper. The issue was raised directly with Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a cabinet meeting, where he reportedly vowed to crack down on malicious briefings and warned of consequences if they continued.
One minister said the cabinet no longer feels like a safe space for genuine debate, though others noted that key policy details, such as defence spending, have not been leaked. The tension follows weeks of pressure on female ministers tasked with difficult portfolios, including welfare cuts and immigration, making them targets for public and political criticism.
Among the new intake of Labour MPs, there is a strong desire for a female successor to Starmer, with resentment towards what they see as a campaign to anoint Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Allies of Streeting deny he is behind any negative briefing, emphasising his focus on NHS reforms. Some in Whitehall point to No 10 or Treasury aides as the source of frustrated briefings against ministers like Kendall and Phillipson.
Streeting has become a prominent media voice for the government, but a LabourList poll shows he is among the least popular cabinet members with party members, ahead only of Liz Kendall, Rachel Reeves, and Richard Hermer. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is the most popular cabinet minister among grassroots, second only to Ed Miliband, though she would face a hostile press if she ran for leader.
