Overview
- An attempted No 10 briefing operation against Health Secretary Wes Streeting backfired, with Streeting denouncing a "toxic" culture and emerging politically stronger.
- Chancellor Rachel Reeves dropped a floated income tax rise after new OBR forecasts, following days of pitch‑rolling that triggered market jitters and accusations of a shambolic reversal.
- Keir Starmer apologized to Streeting and said the hostile briefings did not come from his team, though MPs voiced skepticism and frustration over the handling.
- MPs across factions are discussing alternatives and fear heavy losses in May’s local, Scottish and Welsh elections, yet the 81‑MP nomination threshold makes a formal challenge hard to launch.
- Calls to remove chief of staff Morgan McSweeney intensified, including from a senior Scottish Labour source, as cabinet figures such as Shabana Mahmood criticized No 10’s culture and names like Streeting, Shabana Mahmood, Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham were touted as potential successors.