A clumsy attempt by Downing Street aides to undermine the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has spectacularly backfired, leaving the ambitious minister looking stronger and more like a future leader than ever before.
The Misjudged Briefing War
According to reports, senior figures within Number 10 grew fearful that the upcoming Budget would be so unpopular it could trigger a direct challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership. In a pre-emptive move, selected journalists were briefed that Starmer would refuse to go quietly and would stand and fight any such challenge, a scenario that would likely spook the markets.
However, this briefing war quickly spiralled out of control. A significant portion of the anonymous criticism was aimed squarely at Wes Streeting, the health secretary known for his ambition and political skill. The logic behind targeting Streeting was deeply flawed, as there is currently no prospect of him winning a leadership election among the party's left-leaning membership, who often view him with suspicion.
Streeting's Masterful Response
The counterproductive nature of the attack became clear when Streeting was given a prime platform to respond during a scheduled media round. When asked on Sky News about allegations he would demand the prime minister's resignation after the Budget, he delivered a witty and forthright rebuttal.
He stated, "Yes – and nor did I shoot JFK. I don’t know where Lord Lucan is. I had nothing to do with Shergar. And I do think that the US did manage to do the moon landings. I don’t think they were faked, certainly not by me."
This performance allowed him to publicly proclaim his loyalty to Keir Starmer with both humour and style, a move that can only improve his standing with party members who value loyalty. He condemned the anonymous briefers for "trying to kneecap one of your own team" and described their actions as "self-defeating and self-destructive behaviour".
The Unintended Consequences
Far from forcing Streeting to disown his leadership ambitions, the botched operation handed him a significant political victory. It provided him with a national platform to demonstrate his competence and loyalty simultaneously.
The episode has drawn comparisons to the start of the First World War, where the great powers mobilised and created an unstoppable momentum for conflict without meaning to. In this case, the plotters in Number 10 have inadvertently built up the very person they sought to diminish.
By giving Streeting the chance to shine, they have anointed him as a credible successor, making him look like a good bet for the future should a leadership contest ever materialise. The attempt to kneecap his ambitions has, paradoxically, made them seem more viable.
