Keir Starmer has condemned as “completely unacceptable” any briefings against cabinet ministers from inside Downing Street, amid a row over the future of his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney. The prime minister faced pressure at Prime Minister’s Questions from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who accused him of losing control of his government.
Badenoch asked Starmer whether he had full confidence in McSweeney, to which Starmer gave a non-committal answer. Downing Street later clarified that he did, with the prime minister’s press secretary stating: “Yes. He has always been very clear that he will continue to serve as prime minister at the next election.”
The row follows reports that No 10 launched a pre-emptive operation to protect Starmer against a possible leadership challenge, which his allies believe could come from Health Secretary Wes Streeting after the budget or local elections. Streeting has responded with fury, denying any plotting and describing the attacks as indicative of a “toxic culture” inside Downing Street.
At PMQs, Starmer praised Streeting’s record, saying: “He is doing a great job, as is all of my cabinet.” He added: “I have never authorised attacks on cabinet members. I appointed them to their posts because they’re the best people to carry out their jobs.” The prime minister’s press secretary confirmed that any unauthorised briefing against cabinet ministers would be dealt with.
Several ministers and Labour MPs have pointed the finger at McSweeney for the operation targeting Streeting. Lucy Powell, the newly elected Labour deputy leader, has also called for a culture change inside No 10 and criticised McSweeney. Streeting told the BBC that Powell “was right about the culture of No 10”.
