Prime Minister Keir Starmer has broken his silence to deliver a robust defence of his Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, following what he termed 'completely unacceptable' attacks and leadership plotting briefings.
Prime Minister's Firm Defence in Parliament
During Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir Starmer was forced to confront claims of a 'toxic culture' within his own Downing Street operation. The issue was put to him directly by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who asked if Mr Streeting had been correct in his assessment.
In a clear and forceful reply, the Prime Minister stated: "My focus each and every day is on rebuilding and renewing our country. But let me be absolutely clear, any attack on any member of my cabinet is completely unacceptable." He went on to praise Mr Streeting's performance, declaring he was doing a "great job" and highlighting that the Health Secretary had outperformed expectations by delivering five million extra NHS appointments within the government's first year. This figure significantly surpasses the two million appointments originally pledged.
Mr Starmer's assertion that his Cabinet was a "united team" was reportedly met with laughter from the Conservative benches, underscoring the political tension surrounding the claims.
Streeting's 'Celebrity Traitors' Comparison
The Prime Minister's public show of support came after Wes Streeting was himself compelled to publicly deny any involvement in plots to oust the Labour leader. Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday morning, the Health Secretary dismissed the rumours as "self-defeating" and "doesn't help anyone."
In a colourful and modern analogy, Mr Streeting compared the internal briefings to a popular television show, saying: "I think whoever's been briefing this has been watching too many episodes of Celebrity Traitors. This is just about the worst attack on a faithful since Joe Marler was kicked out and banished in the final." He firmly backed the Prime Minister, stating he was "completely behind him."
Focus on Delivery Amidst Speculation
Attempting to draw a line under the internal party speculation, Keir Starmer used his platform in the Commons to reiterate the government's focus. He emphasised that his chief-of-staff, Morgan McSweeney, and the entire top team "are absolutely focused on delivering for this country."
The public denials from both the Prime Minister and his Health Secretary highlight the challenges the new Labour government faces in maintaining unity while pushing forward with its ambitious agenda for the NHS and public services. The incident marks one of the first public tests of cabinet solidarity since the party took office.
