Why health secretary is considered a threat
The Guardian
|November 14, 2025
A clip from a 2018 comedy show has been circulating in Westminster - and it neatly explains why the spotlight landed on Wes Streeting when No 10 launched its preemptive strikes against potential leadership candidates.
It features a number of freshfaced politicians - from Jess Phillips to Johnny Mercer - who are asked who will be prime minister in 10 years. Several Labour MPs dutifully say the then-leader, Jeremy Corbyn. Tim Loughton, the former Tory MP, predicts Kemi Badenoch.
The final clip is Wes Streeting, who smiles and says: "I think it will probably be me." Streeting has been talked about as a future prime minister since he was leader of the National Union of Students. So in theory it's no surprise that the health secretary was the name connected to briefings from No 10 about how fiercely Keir Starmer would fight a leadership battle.
Even on the morning broadcast round after a day of negative stories, Streeting looked as if he was enjoying himself, comparing himself to the Celebrity Traitors' wronged faithful Joe Marler.
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