Sir Keir Starmer is “investigating” briefings of the Health Secretary Wes Streeting as it seems false allegations have been made that he was leading a coup against the Prime Minister.
Starmer is reportedly looking to identify who is responsible for the briefing against Streeting that the Prime Minister has called “completely unacceptable.”
Labour chair Anna Turley told ITV’s Peston show: “If people have been doing things that the Prime Minister thinks are unacceptable, he is looking into that.
“I’ve met with him today, he is going to investigate, and we’ll see what happens as a consequence of that.
“But the reality is he’s absolutely clear, this is not in his name, this is not what he wants to see, and he’s determined to drive it out.”
The false allegations made against the Health Secretary that he was leading a coup has sparked civil war, there is calls that Starmer’s chief aide Morgan McSweeny should be sacked.
A former ally of McSweeney told the Guardian, “Morgan will have to go. But it won’t save Keir.”
A Cabinet minister added, “If it was an orchestrated campaign to shore up the PM, then it’s had the opposite effect; it’s spectacularly backfired.
“I don’t see how Morgan can survive when Keir has ended up in a weaker position than before.”
LBC reported another source said, “Consensus is forming in cabinet he’ll have to go. I am devastated about it.
“I keep thinking there must be a bigger strategy that I’m not understanding. But I think it’s just that they just have to have an enemy. It’s become their Achilles’ heel.”
Streeting has openly denied any coup against Starmer and he is calling for those in the Downing Street briefing to face the sack over the false allegations.
During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday Starmer said “any attack on any member of my Cabinet is completely unacceptable.
The Tory leader Kemi Badenoch asked Starmer if he has confidence in McSweeny, the Labour leader said, “Morgan McSweeney, my team and I are absolutely focused on delivering for the country.
“Let me be clear, of course, I’ve never authorised attacks on cabinet members, I appointed them to their post because they’re the best people to carry out their jobs.
Streeting told Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, “I think this is daft. I think someone in Downing Street is been watching too much celebrity traitors.
This is the most appalling attack on a faithful I have seen since Joe Marlar was banned in the final.
The Health Secretary was asked if he wants to be Prime Minister, he said, “Not if this is how people behave in your own house. I’m talking to you from the LBC safe house which is just across the road from parliament. This is ridiculous. The Prime Minister is not fighting for his job.”
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