Keir Starmer has strongly criticized the “unacceptable” assaults on Wes Streeting following a failed effort by No10 to fend off challenges to the PM’s position.
Proponents of the Prime Minister launched a preemptive attack against a potential post-Budget rebellion, cautioning that Mr. Starmer would resist any move to depose him. However, the operation, which seemed to target the Health Secretary, ended in a major failure.
A conflict arose on Wednesday as Mr. Streeting condemned the “toxic environment” in No10, with one MP likening aides to characters from the series “The Thick of It.” Mr. Starmer was compelled to publicly distance himself from the assaults in the Commons, voicing support for his Health Secretary, whom he praised for doing “an excellent job.”
He declared, “Any form of attack on a Cabinet member is entirely inappropriate,” emphasizing that he had not approved any negative briefings against his top team. During a subsequent briefing, the PM’s political spokesperson stated, “As previously stated, any unauthorized briefing against Cabinet Ministers will be addressed.”
The spokesperson affirmed the PM’s complete trust in his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, whom some MPs attempted to hold responsible for the briefing.
Mr. Streeting vehemently refuted allegations that he was scheming to overthrow the PM during a planned media circuit before a significant speech on the NHS. He criticized the “self-defeating” rumors being spread by those excessively engrossed in “Celebrity Traitors.”
“This is one of the most severe attacks on loyalty that I’ve witnessed since Joe Marler was expelled and exiled in the final,” he remarked. “It’s an entirely counterproductive briefing, especially because it’s baseless, and I fail to see how anyone deems it beneficial for the Prime Minister.”
Blaming a “toxic environment” in Downing Street, he insisted that those behind the briefings should be dismissed. Mr. Streeting remarked, “I believe that labeling Labour MPs as unruly is unhelpful.”
“I also think that attempting to undermine a member of your own team while they are not just advocating for the Government but actually implementing the promised changes is equally self-defeating and self-destructive behavior.”
The clash occurs amid concerns among MPs as Mr. Starmer grapples with enhancing Labour’s poll standings in light of a surge from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. It also coincides with Rachel Reeves delivering a critical Budget in two weeks, anticipated to include tax hikes that deviate from the party’s manifesto.
Labour MPs expressed outrage on Wednesday over the decision to fuel speculations regarding Mr. Starmer’s future. An MP from the Labour party told the Mirror, “Frankly, the PM is employing amateurs. The operation has been effectively preparing MPs for a challenging Budget, with numerous briefings and meetings, only to sabotage it by needlessly targeting Wes?”
The MP added, “None of this aligns with our promise of calm, stability, and mature leadership. How can he be so adept on the international stage yet so incompetent with his own MPs?” Another MP remarked, “They fancy themselves as characters from ‘The West Wing,’ but they are more akin to those from ‘The Thick of It.'”
Jo White, chair of the Labour MP Red Wall group, cautioned, “Our adversaries revel in our public infighting, and my message to those MPs causing havoc is that this is neither the time nor the place. These individuals believe they are superior to the rest of us, spending their time selectively leaking information to journalists and stirring up trouble. I want to make it clear: We will not tolerate this behavior.”
She added, “To No10, I believe they are misdirecting their efforts by briefing against Wes.” However, one minister shrugged off the briefings to the Mirror, urging the party to “get back to work.”
