I have never authorised attacks on ministers, says PM
🇬🇧 Starmer: ‘I Have Never Authorised Attacks on My Ministers’
Sir Keir Starmer has firmly denied authorising any attacks on his cabinet colleagues, calling recent anonymous briefings “unacceptable” and insisting his government remains united.
The Prime Minister faced questions in Parliament after reports suggested allies close to him had briefed against senior ministers, amid speculation that Health Secretary Wes Streeting could mount a leadership challenge.
Starmer told MPs:
“I’ve never authorised attacks on cabinet members. Any attack on any member of my cabinet is completely unacceptable.”
He praised Streeting for doing a “great job” cutting NHS waiting lists and said his focus — along with that of his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney — was on “delivering for the country.”
At an NHS conference in Manchester, Streeting dismissed rumours of a leadership bid and condemned the “toxic culture” in No.10, while defending McSweeney as key to Labour’s success.
“The bizarre thing about some juvenile briefing overnight is it’s people in No 10 who’ve said the PM is fighting for his job. I don’t think that’s true,” he said.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of having “lost control of his government and the trust of the British people,” calling McSweeney responsible for the chaos.
Downing Street later said the briefings came from “outside No 10” and that the PM has full confidence in McSweeney.
