I have never authorized attacks on ministers, says Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he has “never authorized” attacks on his cabinet ministers, calling briefings against them “unacceptable”.

The Prime Minister spoke at Prime Minister’s Questions after some of his allies told numerous media outlets that he could face a leadership challenge from another cabinet minister, such as Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

There has been speculation about the extent to which Sir Keir was aware of the anonymous briefings, which were aimed at shoring up his position or had encouraged them in some way.

Streeting denied he was preparing a leadership bid and called for those behind the briefings to be sacked.

Asked at an NHS conference in Manchester if he would fight alongside Sir Keir if there was any plot to unseat him as prime minister, Streeting said: “Yes.”

“The strange thing about an overnight youth briefing is that people in No 10 have said the Prime Minister is fighting for his job.

“I don’t think it’s helpful or constructive to say that, and I don’t think it’s true either,” he added.

Streeting has attacked the “toxic culture” within No 10 but has said he does not believe the Prime Minister was behind the briefings.

Asked if he thought Sir Keir’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, was responsible for the culture in Downing Street, he said: “I’m not going to contribute to the toxic culture by contributing to the toxic culture and persecuting individuals.

“I don’t think it’s something constructive or positive.

“One thing I would say in favor of Morgan McSweeney is that there would be no Labor government without him.”

At PMQs, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the prime minister had “lost control of his government… and lost the trust of the British people”.

He said McSweeney was responsible for the culture at No 10 and asked if the Prime Minister still had confidence in him.

Sir Keir responded: “Morgan McSweeney, my team and I are absolutely focused on delivering for the country.

“Let me be clear, of course, I have never authorized attacks on cabinet members, I appointed them to their positions because they are the best people to carry out their jobs.”

Sir Keir told MPs: “Any attack on any member of my cabinet is completely unacceptable.”

He said Streeting, who missed PMQs to give a speech at the NHS conference, was doing a “great job” in reducing waiting lists and increasing numbers of doctors.

Speaking after PMQs, the Prime Minister’s press secretary told reporters that the reports against Streeting had come “from outside No 10” and that the Prime Minister had full confidence in McSweeney.

The spokesperson declined to say whether there was an investigation into leaks, but said the leaks would be “addressed.”

Briefings of this nature are often part of political coverage in Westminster, when people talk to journalists “off the record”.

This means they say things they are not willing to say on camera, which the BBC reports to tell the full story.

On Tuesday night, the prime minister’s supporters told reporters that he would fight a challenge to his leadership, which they believed could come as soon as after the Nov. 26 budget.

They argued that removing the prime minister could create chaos, destabilize international markets and damage the relationship he has built with US President Donald Trump.

Names being discussed by Labor MPs as possible candidates to replace Sir Keir include Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. There is also speculation that Energy Secretary Ed Miliband could run.

Despite winning a landslide majority in the July 2024 general election, Sir Keir has had a difficult time in Downing Street and opinion polls suggest he is unpopular.

Both the budget in two weeks and the elections in Scotland and Wales and the local elections in England next year are critical points for the government.

The prime minister’s supporters have argued that a leadership contest would plunge the party into the chaos associated with the final years of the previous Conservative administration.

To trigger a leadership contest against the prime minister, rivals would need the support of 20% of Labor MPs, which currently means 81 nominations would be needed.

Some Labor MPs and ministers have publicly and privately condemned the briefings.

Appearing on BBC Politics Live, Business Minister Sir Chris Bryant said he thought they were “just silly”.

Bassetlaw Labor MP Jo White said: “This is a group of people who think they are so much smarter than the rest of us, who spend their time selectively briefing journalists and stirring the pot.

“I just want to say: we are not going to allow it.”

But some Labor MPs who typically support the prime minister described the timing and content of the briefing as “poorly handled” and “disconcerting”.

A senior Labor figure questioned why Sir Keir’s allies had “legitimized what was taboo” by publicly entertaining the prospect of a leadership challenge.