Fears of an imminent leadership challenge within the Labour Party have been ignited by the man allegedly at the centre of the speculation - Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
The Social Media Post That Raised Eyebrows
Last Wednesday, Streeting took to social media to praise newly elected socialist mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, describing the victory as holding 'lessons for progressives the world over'. The Health Secretary's comments immediately raised concerns in Westminster, with many questioning whether this public alignment with the Left of the Labour Party indicated he was positioning himself for a leadership bid.
This wasn't the first time suspicions had been raised about Streeting's ambitions. For an extended period, the Health Secretary has been widely regarded as a potential successor to Sir Keir Starmer. His working-class background, strong communication skills and political awareness have consistently marked him as a serious contender for the top job.
Mounting Evidence of Leadership Manoeuvres
Speculation about Streeting's intentions has intensified in recent weeks. Earlier this month, The Mail on Sunday reported that MPs were actively assessing support for Streeting alongside Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner.
The report suggested some Labour figures hoped a 'coronation' could be arranged for Streeting, with Rayner serving as his Left-wing deputy to counter concerns that he's too closely aligned with Blairite politics. The notion of a joint ticket gained traction during Labour's annual conference, when Streeting publicly called for Rayner's comeback just weeks after she was forced out over an underpaid stamp duty bill.
The warnings about leadership manoeuvres reached new intensity on Friday, when the i newspaper reported that MPs were openly plotting against Sir Keir. According to the paper, MPs gathered in the Smoking Room - a private parliamentary bar - to discuss 'the who and the how and the when to replace him'.
Coordinated Briefing and Damage Control
On Tuesday night, a series of coordinated reports emerged featuring allies of the Prime Minister making clear he would fight any leadership challenge. The BBC reported that 'friends' of Sir Keir were 'deeply worried about what they see as plotting' to replace him.
The broadcaster specifically identified Streeting and Mahmood as potential candidates being discussed to displace the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, The Times reported that Sir Keir would not resign 'in the event of any attempt to remove him' and suggested Downing Street figures suspect Streeting could demand the Prime Minister's resignation shortly after the Budget.
The Guardian featured warnings from the Prime Minister's 'most senior political aides' that any attempt to oust Sir Keir over poor poll ratings would be 'reckless' and potentially destabilise markets. The paper also cited senior figures claiming they'd been told Streeting had '50 frontbenchers willing to stand down' if the Budget performed poorly and the Prime Minister refused to step aside.
A spokesman for the Health Secretary quickly denied the allegations, stating it was 'categorically untrue' that he intended to challenge Sir Keir.
Media Rounds and Political Fallout
The briefings coincided with a damning article in The New Statesman - often described as the bible of the Left - which questioned whether the Prime Minister realises 'how much trouble he's in'. The piece detailed 'mutinous talk' in Labour ranks and noted widespread mockery and gallows humour among MPs.
Insiders began pointing fingers at Sir Keir's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney for orchestrating the briefings. By Wednesday morning, Streeting found himself tasked with touring broadcast studios - originally scheduled to discuss NHS England reforms - but instead forced to publicly express loyalty to the Prime Minister to millions of viewers.
If the anonymous briefer had hoped to humiliate Streeting, the plan backfired spectacularly. The Health Secretary deftly handled the questions, even joking that it was 'the worst attack on a Faithful since Joe Marler was banished in The Traitors final'. Many observers noted how his sharp media performance contrasted with Sir Keir's typically more cautious style.
Streeting also criticised what he called a 'toxic culture' in Downing Street and suggested the Prime Minister should sack whoever was responsible for the briefing. However, Number 10 appeared reluctant to take action. Sir Keir offered only lukewarm support to McSweeney during Prime Minister's Questions, and Downing Street refused to promise an investigation into the source of the briefing.
Speaking to health leaders in Manchester yesterday, Streeting declined to say whether he believed McSweeney was responsible for the culture in Number 10, but acknowledged that without him, 'there wouldn't be a Labour Government'.
