Overview
- Keir Starmer told Parliament he never authorised attacks on cabinet colleagues and called any such briefings “completely unacceptable,” while praising Wes Streeting’s work.
- Wes Streeting said claims he is plotting to oust the prime minister are “categorically untrue,” urged Starmer to sack those responsible for the “self‑defeating” leaks, and reiterated his support for the PM.
- Downing Street allies had warned that attempting to remove Starmer would be “reckless,” with reports naming potential rivals including Streeting and Shabana Mahmood and citing a disputed claim of 50 frontbenchers ready to resign.
- Market gauges flickered after the overnight reports, with UK government bonds underperforming and sterling slipping modestly against the dollar, signaling investor unease.
- Any formal challenge faces a high bar of about 80 Labour MP nominations, as attention focuses on a 26 November budget widely expected to include tax rises that could strain manifesto pledges and stoke backbench unrest.