Health Secretary Wes Streeting has publicly declined to rule out ambitions to become Prime Minister, following a vicious internal briefing war within the Labour Party that saw allies of Sir Keir Starmer accuse him of plotting a leadership challenge.
A 'Toxic' Internal War Erupts
The political drama unfolded after allies of the Prime Minister told journalists that Sir Keir would fight off any challenger, specifically naming Mr Streeting. This move to shore up the PM's position spectacularly backfired when the Health Secretary complained of a 'toxic' and 'juvenile' culture in Downing Street.
The situation forced Sir Keir into a humiliating phone call with his Health Secretary to insist the damaging briefing had not originated from within Number 10. The Prime Minister later held what was described as a farcical 'whitewash' inquiry, concluding he had been assured that no one on his team had briefed against Mr Streeting.
Streeting 'Backs Himself' Amid the Furore
Emboldened by the controversy, Mr Streeting faced direct questioning during a phone-in with LBC's Nick Ferrari. When asked if he hoped to become prime minister 'one day', he gave a carefully non-committal reply.
'I'm very happy doing the job that I'm doing, to be honest,' Mr Streeting said. He was then played a clip from 2018 where, while other Labour politicians named then-leader Jeremy Corbyn as a future PM, a confident Streeting stated: 'It will probably be me.'
Laughing off his past remarks, the Health Secretary commented: 'As it's often been said, it will be my sense of humour that will ultimately do for me one day.' He added, 'But if you don't back yourself, who will? That's my advice to the kids in my constituency.'
Fallout and a 'Fever Dream' Week
The embarrassing episode has left the Prime Minister politically exposed and has prompted intense speculation about his position, especially with a difficult Budget and local elections on the horizon next year.
It has also raised serious questions about the future of Sir Keir's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, after suggestions emerged that he was behind the initial briefing.
Reflecting on the chaotic week, Mr Streeting said he woke up feeling like he'd been in 'some sort of fever dream' and described the events as 'quite bizarre'. When asked if the public could still trust Sir Keir and Mr McSweeney, he offered a tepid endorsement, stating, 'Yes, I think you can.'
On his conversation with the Prime Minister, Streeting remained tight-lipped, saying only that it was 'as nice as usual'. He expressed frustration shared by both himself and the PM, labelling the internal conflict a 'total distraction'. In a pointed remark, he concluded, 'The season finale of The Traitors is over and it's time we focused on the news.'
