Kate Whannelpolitical reporter
Wes Streeting has said suggestions from the Prime Minister’s allies that he is trying to challenge for the leadership are “counterproductive nonsense” and has urged Sir Keir Starmer to sack whoever is briefing the media.
On Tuesday night, friends of Sir Keir Starmer said his job could be under immediate threat and that they were particularly suspicious of Streeting’s leadership ambitions.
Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday, the Health Secretary said he “didn’t see any circumstances in which he would do that to our Prime Minister”.
He added that the statements to the press against him were “the worst attack on a faithful since Joe Marler was banished in the final of Los Traidores.”
“Someone has definitely been watching too much Celebrity Traitors. They should switch to Countryfile,” he said.
He added that Lucy Powell, the party’s new deputy leader, was “right about the culture in No 10” and added: “I would like to congratulate the whistleblower for at least upsetting one of the men in the cabinet rather than the women.”
Asked if he should fire those responsible, Streeting said: “Yes. But he has to find them first and I wouldn’t expect him to waste much time on this.”
Other names being discussed as potential candidates in a leadership race include Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, and MPs such as former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh.
“He will fight this,” one minister said, before referring to a key by-election in 2021 that Labor lost to the Conservatives, prompting Sir Keir to consider resigning as Labor leader.
“This is not a Hartlepool moment,” they added.
“He is one of only two people alive to have won a general election for the Labor Party. It would be crazy to run against him after 17 months.”
To trigger a leadership contest against the prime minister, 20% of Labor MPs (currently 81) would have to nominate a rival.
MP Jo White, chair of the Labor Red Wall group, told the Today program that this was “neither the time nor the place” for briefings on a leadership challenge.
“This is a group of people who think they’re so much smarter than the rest of us, who spend their time selectively briefing journalists and stirring the pot.
“I simply want to say: we are not going to allow it.
“I’d like to tell No. 10 that I think they’re barking up the wrong tree by reporting against Wes.”
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.
There have been suggestions that the government could face a crisis point after devolved elections in Scotland and Wales and local elections in England next year.
A senior Labor MP told the BBC: “It’s all very well saying wait for the locals, but it’s my activist base I’m sending to the fire. I can’t lose all my councillors.”
Another Labor source said: “The list of reasons for people to move after the budget is growing by the day.
“If Wes is brave and acts, he could well be rewarded with the premiership at Christmas.”
