Prime Minister Keir Starmer has publicly condemned what he termed as 'completely unacceptable' briefings against his own cabinet ministers originating from inside 10 Downing Street. The statement was made during a tense Prime Minister's Questions session as he attempted to quell a growing rift at the highest levels of his government.
Confrontation at PMQs
The issue was thrust into the spotlight when Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch directly challenged the Prime Minister. She asserted that Starmer had 'lost control of his government' and questioned him about the health secretary, Wes Streeting. Streeting was identified as the apparent target of a pre-emptive operation launched by Number 10 to shield the Prime Minister from a feared leadership challenge.
Badenoch pressed Starmer to explicitly state his full confidence in his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney. However, the Prime Minister dodged the specific question, responding instead that his entire team was 'absolutely focused on delivering for the country'.
Denials and Allegations of a Toxic Culture
The confrontation follows a report by The Guardian which revealed that Downing Street had initiated a move to protect Starmer from a potential leadership challenge that his allies believe could come from Wes Streeting. This challenge was speculated to occur after either the upcoming budget or the local elections in May.
In response, allies of the Prime Minister stated he would fight any 'reckless' attempt to remove him, warning that such internal conflict could negatively impact financial markets and the UK's international standing.
Earlier on Wednesday, Wes Streeting vehemently denied any involvement in such plotting. In an interview with the BBC, he described the attacks on him as 'self-defeating' and indicative of a toxic culture inside Number 10. He supported the newly elected Labour deputy leader, Lucy Powell, who has also criticised the culture and reportedly been a target of negative briefings from the Prime Minister's team, singling out McSweeney.
Political Fallout and Economic Sparring
Badenoch concluded her questioning by lambasting Starmer, claiming he had 'lost the confidence of his party and lost the trust of the British people'. Starmer countered these attacks by shifting focus to the Conservative Party's economic record, accusing them of breaking the economy and proposing unserious fiscal plans.
Throughout the exchange, Starmer remained firm in his defence of his cabinet, stating, 'I have never authorised attacks on cabinet members. I appointed them to their posts because they're the best people to carry out their jobs.' He specifically praised Streeting's record, affirming he is 'doing a great job'.
