I'M KEIR TO STAY

PM's allies launch bid to head off feared coup, He backs Health Sec after briefings backfire

- LIZZY BUCHAN and ASHLEY COWBURN

KEIR Starmer yesterday condemned “unacceptable” attacks against Wes Streeting after a botched bid by No10 to see off threats to the PM's leadership.

Allies of the Prime Minister mounted a preemptive strike against a potential post-Budget coup, warning that Starmer would face down any attempt to oust him.

But the plot, which appeared to target Health Secretary Streeting in particular, spectacularly backfired.

Civil war erupted as Streeting lashed out at the “toxic culture” in No10 and one MP compared aides to characters from BBC political satire The Thick of It.

Starmer was forced to disown the attacks in the Commons yesterday, throwing his weight behind Streeting, who he said was doing “a great job”.

He added: “Any attack on any member of my Cabinet is completely unacceptable.” Starmer also said he had never authorised briefings against members of his top team.

At a briefing afterwards, the PM's political spokeswoman said: “As he set out previously, any unauthorised briefing against Cabinet Ministers would be dealt with.”