Streeting row focuses attention on ‘toxic’ No 10 and Starmer’s leadership

Wes Streeting hit out at the “toxic culture” around Sir Keir Starmer’s No 10 operation after a civil war erupted at the top of the Labour Party.

The Prime Minister was forced to condemn “completely unacceptable” attacks on Mr Streeting over suspicions the Health Secretary is plotting a leadership challenge.

Senior No 10 sources said Sir Keir would fight any leadership challenge but suggested the briefing against Mr Streeting had not come from Downing Street.

The Prime Minister told MPs that he had “never authorised attacks” on Cabinet ministers.

Mr Streeting called for anyone behind the “juvenile” briefing against him to be sacked as he complained about the culture within Sir Keir’s administration.

His criticism of the No 10 operation focused fresh attention of the Prime Minister’s long-time ally and chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said “the Government has descended into a civil war” and asked Sir Keir to say whether he still had full confidence in Mr McSweeney.

“Morgan McSweeney, my team and I are absolutely focused on delivering for the country,” Sir Keir told her.

“I’ve never authorised attacks on Cabinet members. I appointed them to their posts because they are the best people to carry out their jobs.”

He said “any attack on any member of my Cabinet is completely unacceptable” and Mr Streeting was doing a “great job”.

Mr Streeting gave a series of broadcast interviews on Wednesday morning before speaking at a health conference.

He criticised whoever was responsible for the rumours, suggesting they had been “watching too much Celebrity Traitors”.

He told Sky News: “This is just about the worst attack on a faithful I’ve seen since Joe Marler was kicked out and banished in the final.

“It’s totally self-defeating briefing, not least because it’s not true and I don’t understand how anyone thinks it’s helpful to the Prime Minister either.”

Mr Streeting said the briefings showed problems with the “culture in No 10”, although he added that “I’d just like to commend the briefer on at least picking on one of the men instead of the women in Cabinet” after a series of attacks on female ministers including Angela Rayner, Lisa Nandy and Bridget Phillipson.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today “There are people around the Prime Minister who do not follow his model and style of leadership.

“I can tell you, without having even spoken to the Prime Minister, what he thinks of briefing, what his reaction will be to the front pages and the broadcast bulletins overnight and the words I’m sure he would use are not suitable for a family show like this.”

Asked if he should sack those responsible, Mr Streeting said: “Yes. But he’s got to find them first and I wouldn’t expect him to waste loads of time on this.”

The unrest at the top of the party comes after Labour’s poll ratings have plummeted since Sir Keir delivered a landslide general election victory in July 2024.

Rachel Reeves’ Budget in a fortnight could see the party rip up its manifesto promise not to increase income tax and MPs fear a bloodbath in elections next May in English councils and the Scottish and Welsh parliaments.

A Labour MP told the PA news agency they were left in despair over the briefing, saying “whoever thought it was clever wants shooting” and “there is clearly a cultural problem”.

Another MP on the left of the party said there was widespread belief that Sir Keir may not lead the party into the next election.

This included colleagues across the party’s different political stripes, many of whom believe their seats are at risk from Reform UK, they said.

An MP from the right of the party acknowledged the Prime Minister had had a “tough few weeks” but insisted to PA it was far too early ahead of the next general election to consider ousting Sir Keir.

Labour parliamentarians have “no idea” whether Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ plans will turn around the fortunes of the party before the country goes to the polls again, they added.

“It is very premature, and people have too much time on their hands,” they said, adding: “Everyone needs to get on with the job.”

There is a high bar to launch a leadership challenge against the Prime Minister.

A challenger for the Labour leadership can only initiate an election with the public support of 20% of the party’s MPs, which currently means 80 nominations would be needed.

Labour affiliates, including the trade unions, would be able to vote in any subsequent ballot alongside individual members.