Streeting hits out at ‘juvenile’ No 10 claims he wants to replace Starmer as Labour leader: Latest
The Health Secretary has responded to claims he wants to replace Keir Starmer as Labor leader.
Wes Streeting has responded to stories of alleged leadership coups by describing it as “juvenile” while speaking at the NHS Providers conference in Manchester.
He said: “The strange thing about the overnight briefing for the children was that some people in No 10 said they were fighting for the prime minister’s job, which I don’t think is true… I think what he’s trying to do is fight to turn this country around.”
Keir Starmer continued to support Wes Streeting and said he would “never condone attacks on cabinet members”.
Mr Streeting called for the sacking of those briefing against him in Downing Street as a civil war erupted at the top of the Labor Party.
In a flurry of anonymous late-night briefings, the prime minister’s allies began fighting on his behalf amid fears his job could be threatened after the budget in two weeks. Among those rumored to be his replacements are Mr Streeting and interior minister Shabana Mahmood.
Speaking during the fiery PMQs, Sir Keir said “any attack on any member of my cabinet is completely unacceptable” and insisted the health secretary was doing a “fantastic job”, highlighting his record on turning the NHS around.
But the Prime Minister failed to take the opportunity to say he had full confidence in chief of staff Morgan McSweeney when questioned by Kemi Badenoch.
The Conservative leader also accused Sir Keir of “losing control of Number 10” following the briefings.
In pictures: Starmer at the PMQs
Bryony Gooch12 November 2025 15:30
Streeting makes last-minute appeal for junior doctors to call off strike
The Health Secretary called on junior doctors at the last minute to call off their strike but said the NHS would “do everything we can to keep the demonstration on the road”.
Wes Streeting is urging members of the British Medical Association (BMA) to call off a five-day walkout planned to last from 7am on Friday, saying doctors have seen an average pay rise of 28.9 per cent.
Mr Streeting said he would not go further on pay despite calls from the BMA for a 26 per cent increase to counter what he described as pay erosion over time.
Bryony Gooch12 November 2025 15:15
Starmer criticizes ‘completely spineless’ Farage for failing to condemn Reform councilor who called children in care ‘evil’
Starmer criticizes Farage for failing to condemn councilor’s ‘poor’ care remarks for children
Sir Keir Starmer has called Nigel Farage “completely spineless” after the Reform UK leader failed to condemn a councilor from his party who described children in care as “bad”. Labor MP Darren Paffey asked whether Sir Keir would condemn comments made by Reform MP Andy Osborn at the PMQs Wednesday (November 12) meeting of Cambridgeshire County Council in June. After condemning the remarks, Sir Keir asked Mr Farage to do the same. The Reform UK leader instead chose to focus his question on immigration hotels. Before answering Mr Farage’s question, the Prime Minister added: “But he says he does not condemn comments that describe children in care as bad… He is completely spineless.”
Bryony Gooch12 November 2025 15:00
PM’s press secretary leaves open possibility Starmer could sack people
The Prime Minister’s press secretary left open the possibility that Sir Keir Starmer could sack people under Operation No 10 following a briefing war at the top of the government.
Asked if the Prime Minister was prepared to sack people found to have briefed against Cabinet ministers, his press secretary said: “I would draw your attention to what he has said before on this matter; any attack on cabinet ministers is completely unacceptable and will always be dealt with.”
Asked whether a leak investigation was ongoing, he suggested the briefings, specifically to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, were “a series of quotes attributed outside Downing Street”.
No 10 said the Prime Minister has full confidence in both the Health Secretary and his private secretary Morgan McSweeney.
Asked whether the briefings, in which Sir Keir insisted he was ready to tackle leadership challenges, made him look weak, the press secretary replied: “The Prime Minister’s leadership speaks for itself,” noting his three trade deals as well as his efforts to restore stability to the economy and reform public services.
Tara Cobham12 November 2025 14:45
Streeting rejects idea McSweeney is responsible for toxic culture
Health Reporter Rebecca Thomas reports live from the conference:
When asked by journalists at the NHS Providers conference: “Do you think Morgan McSweeney is responsible for the toxic culture at No 10? Do you think he should be sacked for the way the week has gone?”
The health minister responded: “I will not contribute to the toxic culture by contributing to the toxic culture and going after individuals.
“I don’t think it would be a constructive or positive thing and the only thing I would say about Morgan McSweeney is that without him there would be no Labor government.”
Rebecca Thomas, Health Reporter12 November 2025 14:37
From Streeting to Miliband: Who could challenge Keir Starmer for leadership?
Sir Keir has been given until next May’s crucial election and possible disasters in Scotland, Wales and London for MPs to consider a move against him, but if the Budget goes down badly within a fortnight then his demise could come sooner.
The Independent’s political editor David Maddox explores who could replace him:
Tara Cobham12 November 2025 14:30
Street bats claim to be performing ‘maneuvers’
Health Reporter Rebecca Thomas reports live from the conference:
Speaking at the NHS Providers conference in Manchester, Mr Streeting claimed he was “not manoeuvring”.
The health minister, who was questioned further after his speech, was asked whether he would fight alongside the prime minister after the stories of the alleged leadership coup.
Mr Streeting said: “The strange thing about the overnight briefing for children is that some people in No 10 say they are fighting for the prime minister’s job, which I don’t think is true… I think what he is trying to do is fight to turn this country around.”
He was asked about the 2024 interview in which he expressed his desire to become Prime Minister one day.
He said: “I’ve got a tough job anyway, so I quite enjoy doing it.”
“I won’t say anything today that will contribute to the ongoing ridiculous season.”
Rebecca Thomas, Health Reporter12 November 2025 14:23
Streeting rejects ideas Starmer is fighting for his job
Wes Streeting has rejected questions that he is fighting for Keir Starmer’s No 10 job.
“The strange thing about the overnight briefing for children is that some people in No 10 say they are fighting for the prime minister’s job.
“I don’t think that’s a helpful or constructive thing to say, nor do I think it’s right.
“I think what he’s doing is fighting to get the country out of the huge mess that we’ve inherited on so many fronts.”
Bryony Gooch12 November 2025 14:22
Watch: Ed Davey slams Trump’s $1bn legal threat to BBC
Tara Cobham12 November 2025 14:15
Badenoch said Starmer had “lost confidence in his party and the trust of the British people”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Sir Keir Starmer had “lost control of his Government, lost the trust of his party and lost the trust of the British people”.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Ms Badenoch said: “I wouldn’t make the stupid mistake of abolishing employment tax and killing jobs.
“Since their arrival, disaster after disaster has occurred. The Deputy Prime Minister, the new Deputy Prime Minister, is unaware of how many illegal immigrant sex offenders he has released. The Minister of Culture is breaking the rules to give his donor a good job. Taxes will rise further, unemployment is at levels not seen since the lockdown.
“And in the middle of all this, a weak Prime Minister at war with his own Cabinet.
“Not just him, all of them. He’s not being replaced, all of them. Two weeks before the Budget, hasn’t this Prime Minister lost control of his Government, lost the trust of his party, lost the trust of the British people?”
The Prime Minister replied: “Stupid mistakes have been made for 14 years. They have disrupted the economy and now they think they can teach us a lesson and now they have the unserious idea that they can come up with £47bn of cuts without telling us where they will come from.”
Tara Cobham12 November 2025 14:00
