Overview
- Unnamed Downing Street allies briefed that Starmer would resist any ouster, naming Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood as potential rivals and claiming Streeting had about 50 frontbenchers ready to quit.
- Streeting called the claims "categorically untrue," condemned the "self‑defeating" briefings, and said he supports the prime minister.
- At PMQs, Starmer said he never authorised attacks on cabinet members and praised Streeting’s work, with No 10 later indicating he retains confidence in chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.
- UK government bonds fell and the pound dipped as investors registered unease over political instability and the tax‑raising risks of the November 26 Budget.
- A leadership challenge would require nominations from 20% of Labour MPs — around 80 — making a contest difficult, with the Budget viewed as the earliest potential flashpoint.