Exclusive: No.10 'Still Briefing Against Streeting' Despite Starmer Apology

Aides to Keir Starmer continued to brief against Wes Streeting even while the prime minister was apologising to the health secretary for their behaviour, HuffPost UK has been told.

The PM said sorry to his cabinet colleague in a brief telephone call on Wednesday night.

It came after a day in which the civil war at the top of the Labour Party was played out in public.

Sources close to Starmer accused Streeting of plotting against him and even suggested he could challenge his leadership after the Budget later this month.

The health secretary said that was untrue – and accused the PM’s supporters of trying to “kneecap” him.

Labour MPs also hit out at Starmer’s allies – including his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney – claiming their actions had weakened the prime minister while boosting Streeting’s standing among his colleagues.

At prime minister’s questions, Starmer said briefing against cabinet members was “completely unacceptable”.

It is understood that during their phone call, Starmer apologised to Streeting but did not go into details about what had happened, and McSweeney’s position was not discussed.

But a government source told HuffPost UK: “While Keir was apologising, No10 and ‘friends of Morgan’ were still briefing against Wes. Keir’s got to get his house in order.”

The revelation threatens to further anger Labour MPs, who are demanding the PM takes action against those responsible.

Labour Party chair Anna Turley said the PM is “looking into” who is behind the briefings against Streeting.

She told ITV: “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.”

She added: “He was not aware of this briefing… He’s going to take action in this to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”