Sir Keir Starmer has mentioned he “by no means authorised assaults” on cupboard members after his Quantity 10 workforce briefed that Wes Streeting was plotting a coup.
The prime minister backed his well being secretary, who spent the morning batting off overnight claims – which he mentioned got here from Quantity 10 – that he was planning to oust Sir Keir after the finances and take his place.
However the Labour chief did not say he had full confidence in his chief of employees Morgan McSweeney, when requested by Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch.
Politics newest: Starmer says any attack on cabinet members is unacceptable
He instructed Prime Minister’s Questions: “Morgan McSweeney, my workforce and I are completely centered on delivering for the nation.
“Let me be clear. I’ve by no means authorised assaults on cupboard members. I appointed them to that submit as a result of they’re the very best individuals to hold out that job.”
Ms Badenoch mentioned she didn’t hear Sir Keir again Mr McSweeney.
The prime minister’s spokesperson later mentioned he had full confidence in his chief of employees – and claimed the briefing towards Mr Streeting got here from outdoors Quantity 10, in what seems to be a blame recreation.
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Sir Keir did publicly again Mr Streeting, telling PMQs he has helped ship 5 million additional NHS appointments and is “doing an excellent job”.
“Any assault on any member of my cupboard is totally unacceptable,” Sir Keir added.
“It is a united workforce and we’re delivering.”
His final line acquired jeers from the opposition benches, with Speaker Lindsay Hoyle having to intervene, telling MPs in the event that they “need to audition for the pantomime, I recommend you go to the Outdated Vic”.
Well being secretary insists he is ‘a trustworthy’
Ms Badenoch accused Sir Keir of getting “misplaced management of Quantity 10” and mentioned two weeks from the 26 November finances, “the federal government has descended into civil struggle”.
She mentioned Labour MPs have been “chuntering” from the benches dealing with her and mentioned they have been the “feral MPs that Quantity 10 has been speaking about”.
“Unbelievably, the prime minister’s advisers have been lowered to briefing that MPs cannot eliminate him and – I am not making this up – they can not eliminate him as a result of it could destabilise worldwide markets,” Ms Badenoch added.
“Why does the prime minister suppose that there can be a market meltdown if the well being secretary took over?”
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Hours earlier, at 7am, Mr Streeting instructed Mornings with Ridge and Frost he wouldn’t attempt to oust Sir Keir and accused allies of the prime minister in Quantity 10 of briefing towards him.
“I do suppose that going out and calling your Labour MPs ‘feral’ just isn’t very useful,” he mentioned.
“I do suppose that attempting to kneecap considered one of your personal workforce when they’re out, not simply making the case for the federal government, however really delivering the change that we promised, I believe that can be self-defeating and self-destructive behaviour.”
He added: “Whoever’s been briefing this has been watching an excessive amount of Superstar Traitors.
“That is simply concerning the worst assault on a trustworthy I’ve seen since Joe Marler was kicked out and banished within the last.”
