Health Secretary Wes Streeting has firmly shut down questions about the internal Labour Party briefing war, dismissing the controversy as trivial 'silly Westminster soap opera stuff' that means nothing to the public.
During a visit to the Paddington Community Diagnostic Centre in Liverpool on Thursday, 13th November 2025, Mr Streeting declined to revisit what he called 'yesterday's news'. This follows a tumultuous 24 hours where he was the subject of anonymous briefings accusing him of plotting to unseat Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
'No Idea. Don't Care': Streeting on Starmer's Investigation
When pressed by the PA news agency on whether Sir Keir was investigating the source of the attacks, the Health Secretary was blunt. 'No idea. Don't care,' he stated, making his position clear that he would not be drawn into the drama.
He elaborated that voters do not 'give two monkeys' about the internal squabbles within the Westminster village. Instead, he redirected the focus to his department's work, asserting that what truly matters to people is whether the government is successfully reducing NHS waiting lists.
Downing Street Fallout and Cabinet Solidarity
The unrest prompted Sir Keir Starmer to gather his senior Downing Street team for a meeting on Thursday morning. During this call, which included staff in both No. 10 and North Wales, the Prime Minister reiterated that briefings against Cabinet ministers were unacceptable.
His official spokesman later stated that Sir Keir was 'assured that no No. 10 staff briefed against ministers'. In a move to smooth over the rift, Sir Keir personally apologised to Mr Streeting for the briefing campaign in a brief chat on Wednesday evening.
Cabinet colleague Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, publicly backed the Prime Minister's stance. He told Sky News that Sir Keir had always said he would 'get rid' of anyone found to be behind such a briefing campaign, a sentiment Mr Miliband fully endorsed.
Shifting Focus Back to the NHS
Amid the political storm, Wes Streeting sought to highlight positive developments within the health service. He emphasised that the NHS is 'on the road to recovery', pointing to several key achievements:
- A fall in the waiting list for routine hospital treatment in England.
- The recruitment of 2,500 more GPs in his first year as Health Secretary.
- Faster ambulance response times across the country.
When asked directly about the future of Sir Keir's powerful chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney – who some have blamed for the fallout – Mr Streeting again pivoted to the NHS, suggesting that everyone would be 'absolutely delighted' with the day's positive health service news.
The public infighting comes at a challenging time for the Labour government, with poll ratings having plummeted since its landslide election victory in July 2024. The party faces further pressure with Rachel Reeves's upcoming Budget and fears of significant losses in the English council and devolved parliament elections scheduled for May.
