No 10 Briefing Scandal Intensifies Budget Pressure
Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting political pressure as a hostile briefing against Health Secretary Wes Streeting creates fresh turmoil within his government. The incident, which Starmer insists did not originate from inside Downing Street, has complicated an already critical moment for both the PM and Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of their first major Budget.
Starmer was forced to apologise to Streeting personally for the negative briefing, despite Downing Street staff assuring him that none of them were responsible. The Prime Minister has since delivered a stern warning to all Number 10 staff, describing attacks on cabinet colleagues as "completely unacceptable".
Suspicion Falls on Starmer's Inner Circle
In a scene reminiscent of the television show Traitors, suspicion about the source of the briefing has fallen heavily on the Prime Minister's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney. Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch directly named McSweeney during Prime Minister's Questions, adding to the political embarrassment.
The situation has left Starmer in the awkward position of apologising for something he maintains neither he nor his staff committed. This contradicts his campaign promise to bring "an end to chaos and confusion" in government.
Reeves's Diminished Standing
The political fallout comes at a particularly difficult time for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, whose stature within the party has diminished significantly since Labour entered government. During opposition, Reeves was widely discussed as a potential successor to Starmer, enjoying strong poll leads and considerable influence.
That dynamic has shifted dramatically, with Reeves now facing one of the most challenging economic environments in recent memory. The Office for National Statistics reported negligible growth in the third quarter of 2025, with a slight contraction in September largely attributed to production shutdowns at Jaguar Land Rover following a cybersecurity incident.
Budget Make-or-Break Moment
The economic outlook presents Reeves with limited options for her Budget presentation. Political observers suggest that lifting the controversial two-child benefit cap could become the centrepiece of her fiscal plan, a move that would please Labour backbenchers and potentially secure her position.
The relationship between Starmer and Reeves has become increasingly interdependent. Unlike prime ministers with strong personal ratings, Starmer lacks the political capital to replace an unpopular chancellor without facing serious consequences. The question "If they're resigning, why are you still here?" would pose a significant threat to his leadership.
The situation bears uncomfortable parallels to Liz Truss's brief premiership in 2022, when she was forced to dismiss Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng to calm market turmoil, only to be replaced herself six days later. Ironically, financial markets currently view Reeves as a stabilising influence, fearing that any potential replacement would pursue higher borrowing.
As the Budget approaches on Thursday 13 November 2025, both Starmer and Reeves face what many consider a near-impossible task: delivering economic stability while managing internal party tensions that have been exacerbated by the recent briefing scandal.
