Labour war between Starmer and Streeting ramps up as PM faces mounting revolts on jury trials and Hillsborough Law

Keir Starmer is struggling to keep Labour’s simmering civil war under control today, with riots looming over jury trials and the Hillsborough Bill.

The Prime Minister’s allies and Wes Streeting have clashed more fiercely following briefings over the Health Secretary’s assertion of leadership.

Mr Streeting’s team complained that recent briefings suggesting Sir Keir should sack him for disloyalty were “incredibly stupid”.

Fingers are being pointed at No 10 minister Darren Jones, although he has apparently denied any involvement.

Meanwhile, the government is bracing for more trouble in tomorrow’s tight vote on the Hillsborough Bill. The bill would impose a duty of candor on state officials in order to prevent cover-ups.

Changes proposed by the government last week brought spies within the scope of the law, but campaigners and many Labor MPs warned that making the role subject to approval by the own service chief would leave a loophole.

Backbenchers have tabled rival amendments that could attract significant support in the House of Commons.

As Sir Keir struggles to maintain discipline on many fronts, rebellion over proposals to deny him the right to a jury trial is gathering pace.

There are claims the two ministers are ready to resign unless Justice Secretary David Lammy rethinks controversial plans.

Robert Jenrick’s dramatic departure from the Conservative Party to Reform on Thursday sparked a new wave of red-on-red attacks against Mr Streeting.

Insiders suggested Sir Keir should emulate Kemi Badenoch’s strong response to infidelity; This led to Mr Jenrick being expelled from the party for planning to switch parties.

The former shadow justice secretary, apparently caught ‘in the middle of the plot’, remained silent for hours before he was eventually revealed as a new Reform MP at a press conference alongside Nigel Farage.

There are claims the two ministers are ready to resign unless Justice Secretary David Lammy (pictured next to Keir Starmer in Cabinet) rethinks controversial jury trial plans

A spokesman for Mr Streeting said: ‘It’s a real shame that Keir’s so-called allies are yet again briefing against Wes when they should be talking about the second biggest drop in waiting lists in 15 years and ambulances arriving 15 minutes faster than Labour.

‘Given that Reform and the Conservatives are currently at each other’s throats, this briefing is also incredibly stupid.

‘Wes is delivering real change in the NHS and advocating for Keir and Labor there.’