London — On Wednesday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed reports that members of his own Labour Party had briefed the press about a possible leadership ouster, just 14 days before a government budget expected on November 26. The briefings singled out Health Secretary Wes Streeting and suggested internal ambition was under particular scrutiny; Streeting has denied any intention to challenge. Starmer told Parliament he did not authorize negative briefings and said attacks on cabinet colleagues are “completely unacceptable,” while the row has amplified worries about an already steep drop in his public approval.
Key takeaways
- Reports circulated late Tuesday accusing some Starmer allies of briefing against senior ministers, naming Wes Streeting as a focus of suspicion.
- Starmer publicly rejected the briefings in Parliament on Wednesday, saying he had not authorized them and defending his cabinet appointments.
- Wes Streeting called the reports “self-defeating nonsense” and said he could not imagine challenging the prime minister; aides accused the briefers of trying to “kneecap” him.
- The episode comes two weeks before a budget set for November 26, when Chancellor Rachel Reeves may announce tax rises and spending cuts to reduce debt.
- Polling is deeply unfavorable: YouGov reports 17% approval and 73% disapproval for Starmer as of November 2025.
- A genuine leadership challenge would require 20% support from Labour MPs, the equivalent of roughly 80 lawmakers, making an immediate coup difficult.
- The controversy has drawn criticism from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who described culture at Downing Street as “toxic,” intensifying cross-party pressure.
Background
Keir Starmer led Labour to a decisive general election victory in July 2024, but his standing with the public deteriorated sharply during his first 16 months in office. A range of policy adjustments and governance decisions have prompted sustained media scrutiny and internal unease. Labour MPs had previously signalled that a serious leadership contest was unlikely before the local elections scheduled for May 2026, giving the government time to recover politically.
Wes Streeting, appointed health secretary to oversee repairs to the National Health Service, is a prominent figure within the parliamentary party and seen by some colleagues as ambitious. Removing a Labour leader is procedurally demanding: challengers must secure nominations from 20% of Labour MPs, which creates a high barrier to swift leadership coups. The impending budget, intended to address a fiscal shortfall, is widely expected to include tax measures that could be politically costly, and the timing has sharpened tactical disputes inside and outside the party.
Main event
Late on Tuesday, multiple British news outlets reported that allies of Starmer had briefed against senior ministers, flagging Streeting in particular. The briefings suggested internal concern over the health secretary’s ambitions and urged caution about his role; those close to Streeting said the material was inaccurate and damaging. By Wednesday afternoon the story had escalated, prompting Starmer to make a parliamentary statement to deny authorizing attacks on colleagues and to defend his appointments.
Streeting responded to reporters by dismissing the story as “self-defeating nonsense” and explicitly rejecting any plan to depose the prime minister. He told media he could not imagine circumstances in which he would move against Starmer and accused unnamed briefers of trying to “kneecap” his reputation. A quickly created “Wes for Leader” website surfaced on Tuesday, though Streeting’s office said he was not launching a leadership bid; CNN sought further comment from his team.
The dispute has not remained an intra-party spat. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Downing Street of overseeing a “toxic” culture, framing the episode as symptomatic of wider governance problems. The row compounds pressure on Starmer as the government prepares to address a fiscal black hole, with the budget expected to include measures that could reopen campaign promises and inflame public sentiment. Analysts and opposition figures alike say the episode exposes organisational strains in Downing Street ahead of a politically perilous budget announcement.
Analysis & implications
The immediate political risk is reputational: public perception of disunity and internal leak culture often undermines a government’s capacity to sell difficult decisions. With YouGov showing only 17% approval, any sign of infighting magnifies voter distrust and gives opponents leverage. If the budget on November 26 includes tax increases or benefit adjustments, the government will need tight messaging discipline—something the current episode appears to have compromised.
Institutionally, the incident highlights tensions between Downing Street operations and senior ministers. Starmer’s assertion that he did not authorize the briefings is intended to draw a firm line under internal backbiting, but the revelation that aides circulated derogatory material about a cabinet colleague raises questions about oversight and control. That matters for policy delivery: ministers who feel undermined may be less willing to defend collective decisions publicly.
Electoral implications are significant. An already strong polling position for Reform UK in some surveys — and continued attacks from figures such as Nigel Farage — mean Labour cannot assume a smooth midterm. If the budget pursues austerity-style measures to reduce debt, those choices could accelerate swing voters’ drift, especially among those who abandoned Labour expectations after the July 2024 landslide. Conversely, if Starmer successfully clamps down on leaks and unites the cabinet behind a coherent narrative, the government could stabilize long enough to weather immediate backlash.
Comparison & data
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Prime minister approval | 17% | YouGov (pollster) |
| Prime minister disapproval | 73% | YouGov (pollster) |
The table above shows the sharp imbalance between approval and disapproval cited by YouGov in November 2025. Those figures underline the political fragility Starmer faces: with only 17% approval, internal disputes are more damaging than they would be for a leader with broader public backing. Past UK leaders who sustained large negative approval gaps have often faced prolonged press scrutiny and amplified opposition challenges, making the coming budget and the government’s communications strategy critical for near-term stability.
Reactions & quotes
Starmer moved quickly to rebut the suggestion that he had authorized briefings against ministers, aiming to restore collective discipline and close down speculation. His parliamentary response framed the issue as an internal administrative failure rather than a policy dispute.
“I appointed them to their posts because they’re the best people to carry out their jobs. Any attack on any member of my cabinet is completely unacceptable.”
Keir Starmer, Prime Minister (parliamentary statement)
Streeting, the minister identified in the briefings, denied any ambition to mount a leadership bid and challenged the motives of those who circulated the claims. His remarks sought both to clear his name and to reassert loyalty to the prime minister.
“Self-defeating nonsense — I cannot see any circumstances under which I would do that to our prime minister.”
Wes Streeting, Health Secretary (media interview)
Conservative reactions framed the episode as evidence of a wider cultural problem in government, with opposition leaders seizing the moment to question Starmer’s control. Those critiques are likely to feature heavily in the opposition’s messaging in the run-up to the budget.
“The culture at Downing Street has become toxic and undermines public confidence in government.”
Kemi Badenoch, Conservative Party leader
Unconfirmed
- The identity of the primary source or organiser of the negative briefings has not been independently verified and remains unconfirmed.
- Whether the timing of the briefings was coordinated to influence the November 26 budget narrative is unproven and lacks corroborating evidence.
- The existence of a sustained, organised plot to remove Starmer before the budget is not substantiated by verifiable signatures or public declarations from 20% of Labour MPs.
Bottom line
The episode is a test of Starmer’s managerial control and communications discipline at a delicate moment. With a crucial budget two weeks away and approval ratings deeply negative, the prime minister needs to show clear ownership of cabinet coherence and message discipline to limit political fallout. How Starmer handles leaks and whether he can reassert control over Downing Street operations will shape perceptions of his leadership heading into the budget.
Even if no immediate leadership contest materialises—because of the high nomination threshold—the political damage from perceived disunity can be persistent. The budget’s contents and the government’s ability to present a united front will determine whether this episode is a contained scandal or the start of a more prolonged leadership crisis.
Sources
- CNN (international news report)
- YouGov (polling organisation)
- Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street (official government site)