Health Secretary Wes Streeting has been compelled to publicly deny harbouring ambitions to replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer, following what appears to be coordinated briefings from Number 10 targeting potential leadership rivals.
The Comedy Clip That Sparked Speculation
A resurfaced clip from a 2018 comedy show has been circulating throughout Westminster, perfectly illustrating why Streeting found himself in the crosshairs of Downing Street's preemptive strikes against perceived leadership challengers. The footage shows several politicians, including Jess Phillips and Johnny Mercer, being asked who would be prime minister in ten years. While most gave predictable answers, Streeting smiled confidently and responded: "I think it will probably be me."
This early display of ambition is nothing new for the health secretary, who has been talked about as a future prime minister since his days as leader of the National Union of Students. Yet the recent negative briefings connecting him to leadership speculation still managed to surprise casual observers, leaving many wondering about their origin.
Why No 10 Suspects a Potential Coup
Despite Streeting's consistent loyalty to the government, some within Starmer's inner circle have become convinced that the health secretary represents more than just ambition - they suspect active plotting. Allies of Streeting firmly deny any such conspiracy exists.
However, several factors have fueled these suspicions. Since the welfare vote, a grim consensus has been forming among MPs that Starmer cannot effectively counter the threat posed by Nigel Farage's Reform UK, described by some as a "progressive emergency."
While Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has attracted support from some dissatisfied Labour MPs, Streeting's communication skills make him a natural contender. He faces significant hurdles with the party membership, however, given his position within the traditional Blairite wing rather than Starmer's faction.
His political stance was famously summarised in a shadow cabinet meeting where he declared: "Every day, we should drag a sacred cow of our party to the town market place and slaughter it." This approach has manifested in his outspoken support for private sector partnerships to clear NHS backlogs, fierce criticism of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership regarding antisemitism, and the controversial decision to ban puberty blockers for under-18s.
Shifting Alliances and Political Calculations
Three key factors work in Streeting's favour should a leadership contest emerge. First, his main rivals face practical constraints - Andy Burnham lacks a parliamentary seat, while Angela Rayner's recent resignation has weakened her position, though rumours persist of a potential pact between them.
Second, the Labour membership has transformed significantly, shedding many left-wing voters dissatisfied with Starmer's government. The remaining members tend toward moderation, potentially making Streeting more palatable than in previous years.
Most crucially, Streeting has deliberately tacked leftward in recent months, particularly on Palestine and anti-racism issues. On Gaza, he has become the government's most vocal advocate for Palestinian statehood and stronger sanctions against Israel, though this stance also reflects electoral realities in his Ilford North constituency, where he nearly lost to independent left-wing candidate Leanne Mohamad.
Allies point to his outspoken Gaza position as the moment when relations with Starmer began cooling significantly. But this isn't the only area where Streeting has distinguished himself from government policy.
He has opposed the government's approach to welfare and digital ID in cabinet meetings, publicly criticised Starmer's "island of strangers" immigration speech as a mistake, and spoken against attempts to cut winter fuel allowances and welfare. These positions signal what a potential Streeting administration might look like.
Streeting has also identified frustration within the parliamentary party about Number 10's slow response to Reform UK, particularly on racial issues. After mass far-right rallies in London, he suggested Labour needed to radically step up its defence of minorities, abandoning a planned NHS England LGBTQ+ health conference speech to address what he called "the elephant in the room."
He directly challenged the government's official line that the protests demonstrated free speech, stating: "Free speech, that is, unless that freedom includes the right to worship a different God, or the right to march through central London protesting atrocities in Gaza or the right just to walk down Oxford Street without being called the P-word, the N-word, or having your hijab ripped off."
Friends say the health secretary shares the intense frustration felt by many Labour members, MPs, and progressives about Number 10's unclear response to the far-right threat. They insist these are genuinely held beliefs, not political positioning, and that Streeting won't wait for official talking points before speaking out.
If anything, the recent speculation appears to have emboldened him further to express his opinions without restraint.
