Wes Streeting allies hit out at ‘stupid’ briefings after ministers ‘urge Starmer to sack him for disloyalty’
Allies of Wes Streeting have hit out at the briefing against him after it was reported that he had pressured the prime minister to sack the health secretary for disloyalty at a time when divisions in his senior team of Cabinet ministers had deepened.
Senior figures at No 10 are said to be pressing for Mr Streeting to be sacked, claiming he has an “open mind” in his public comments.
This internal pressure is understood to stem from a briefing war that began in Downing Street, targeting the health secretary over his desire to replace Sir Keir as prime minister.
A minister told Times The prime minister needs to learn a lesson from Kemi Badenoch, who dramatically sacked the shadow justice secretary for disloyalty before she had the opportunity to undermine him and defect to Reform UK.
They told the paper that Mr Streeting had “undermined us all” in government and claimed he had “repeatedly breached collective responsibility”.
But a spokesman for the health secretary described the timing of the latest briefing against him as “incredibly stupid”, pointing out it came as Reform UK and the Conservatives competed for supremacy on the political right.
The spokesman said: “It’s a real shame that Keir’s so-called allies are once 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 driving real change in the NHS and making the case for Keir and Labor there.”
Two other cabinet ministers appeared convinced that Streeting was maneuvering to become prime minister, telling The Times: “If Wes doesn’t become Labor prime minister… as he was when he was 18, he will tell himself his whole life has been a failure. Everything he does now is in pursuit of that goal.”
But a No 10 source said: Times Mr Streeting was doing a “fantastic job as health secretary” and was a “key player in the team”.
It comes at a time of growing concern about the direction of the Labor government, devastating approval ratings and a rapidly increasing number of U-turns on policy.
Mr Streeting has previously expressed concern about the government’s direction and spoke of a “toxic culture” at No 10 when the briefing against him was made public in November.
He also raised concerns at a conference on Tuesday this week, saying ministers should set New Year’s resolutions to “get it right first time” amid a series of government U-turns.
And last month the prime minister was forced to pour cold water on suggestions that Britain should rejoin the customs union with the EU after Mr Streeting said the arrangement had delivered “tremendous economic benefits”.
The latest briefings against Mr Streeting are not the first time Downing Street figures have accused the health secretary of plotting against the Prime Minister; A row broke out in November after unnamed charities warned of an alleged coup against Sir Keir.
At the time, Mr Streeting called on Sir Keir to sack those responsible for “self-defeating” rumors about the alleged Labor leadership challenge.
In a provocative public condemnation of Sir Keir’s Downing Street, Mr Streeting took aim at the “culture” at No 10 and categorically denied plotting to oust the Prime Minister.
Downing Street has been contacted for comment.
