After a week of rising tensions in the Labour Party, anonymous No 10 figures have accused Health Secretary Wes Streeting of preparing to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the leadership.
The allegations – denied categorically by Streeting – surfaced two weeks before the Budget and spread quickly through Westminster, unsettling financial markets and causing “frustration” among Labour MPs.
Starmer yesterday insisted he would never authorise briefings against members of his Cabinet, and reportedly called Streeting to apologise late on Wednesday.
Here is how the leadership row unfolded – and where we are now.
Last week: Warnings of plots against Starmer
The first signs of trouble came last week when The i Paper revealed that Labour MPs had been quietly discussing the prospect of replacing Starmer.
MPs were reportedly in Parliament “until late talking about the who and the how and the when to replace him”, one minister said.
Several MPs said a challenge was being considered if the Budget failed to land with voters or shift Labour’s historically low polling numbers.
Explaining why the mood was declining, one Labour MP said: “It’s a mix of everything. It’s the botched reshuffle. It’s all the poll ratings. It’s having to break the manifesto commitment to raise income tax in the Budget.
“It’s Peter Mandelson. It’s a belief among the PLP that the Prime Minister and Downing Street don’t really like them or respect them. Eventually, that feeling becomes mutual.”
Some MPs thought the post-Budget period could trigger a move; others pointed to May’s elections in Scotland, Wales and England as a likely flashpoint.
The warnings also unsettled markets, with yields on 10-year gilts rising as rumours of instability circulated.
Tuesday evening: No 10 briefing war begins
On Tuesday night, the leadership anxiety burst into the open.
Several outlets reported that No 10 sources had accused Streeting of being “on manoeuvres”, briefing that he was gathering support for a potential challenge and could call for Starmer to resign after the Budget.
Other senior figures were also dragged into the speculation. Some reports suggested Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband were considering leadership bids, but sources close to Mahmood said the idea she was involved was “nonsense”, and no evidence emerged to support any of the claims.
The i Paper reported that there was “extraordinary paranoia” in No 10 following the reports, which led figures in Downing Street to launch the briefing war against Streeting.
“No 10 has gone absolutely mad after the report at the weekend,” a Labour source said. “The idea that Wes is briefing says more about No 10 than Wes. No 10 is in full bunker mode.”
The briefings sparked disbelief across the party. A Government source told The i Paper that Starmer’s team was “turning on their most loyal Cabinet members for absolutely no reason”. Another insider labelled the move “unhinged”.
Downing Street insisted Starmer would fight any attempt to oust him.
Streeting’s spokesman told The i Paper the claims he was plotting a leadership bid were “categorically untrue”, saying he remained focused entirely on NHS reforms, waiting lists and GP recruitment.
Wednesday morning: Streeting hits back
Streeting began on Wednesday with a scheduled round of interviews intended to showcase an NHS announcement. Instead, he was pressed on claims that he was preparing to topple the Prime Minister.
He expressed clear irritation, telling LBC: “I think this is daft. Someone in Downing Street has been watching too much Celebrity Traitors.”
Speaking to Sky News, he called the briefing “self-destructive” and stressed that it was “not true” and “not helpful to the Prime Minister”.
On BBC Breakfast, he said: “I am not challenging the Prime Minister, I am not standing against him,” adding: “I cannot see the circumstances under which I would do that to our Prime Minister.”
Streeting accused those responsible of contributing to a “toxic culture” inside No 10 and said they should be removed: “Yes. But he’s got to find them first.”
The reaction across Labour was immediate. MPs told The i Paper that Streeting had handled the crisis “better than anyone expected”, with one saying he had “come out of this stronger”.
Wednesday afternoon: Starmer defends team
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer attempted to regain control of the situation. He said “any attack on any member of my Cabinet is completely unacceptable” and praised Streeting as doing a “great job”.
But when Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch asked whether he still had confidence in his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who many MPs suspected of involvement in the briefing, Starmer avoided a direct answer.
He said: “Morgan McSweeney, my team and I are fully focused on delivering for the country. I’ve never authorised attacks on Cabinet ministers.”
No 10 later clarified that Starmer had “full confidence” in McSweeney and the entire operation.
Badenoch said the exchange showed that the Prime Minister had “lost control of his Government”, accusing him of presiding over “his toxic No 10”.
Wednesday evening: Blame game begins
By the evening, attention had turned to who inside Downing Street was responsible for the briefing.
Labour figures offered conflicting accounts. Some claimed McSweeney was directly involved. Others told The i Paper the briefing had originated with a minister close to the Prime Minister. A third group said it reflected a wider “bunker mentality” at the top of Government.
One Government source told The i Paper that No 10 was “an unhappy house”, while a senior MP said the episode felt like “end of days”.
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Streeting refused to identify anyone. “There are people around the Prime Minister who do not follow his model and style of leadership,” he said. A source close to him said No 10 was now in “paranoid bunker mode”.
Cabinet ministers expressed bewilderment. One said: “We’re better than this.” Another admitted they were “just so sad about it all”.
A junior minister told The i Paper: “It’s just a mess. Everyone needs to calm down.”
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