Starmer defies calls to sack his chief of staff, claiming briefing was not from No 10

Keir Starmer has attempted to draw a line under extraordinary briefings by his allies that No 10 feared Wes Streeting could launch a leadership coup, insisting he had been reassured it "didn't come from Downing Street".

- Jessica Elgot Peter Walker Rowena Mason

The prime minister gathered his senior staff to stress that briefings against cabinet ministers were “unacceptable” after apologising to Streeting for what had happened on Wednesday.

However, his spokesperson said Starmer had also accepted assurances that No 10 staff had not briefed against Streeting and that he stood by his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney.

After the furore over No 10’s fears about a leadership challenge from Streeting, first revealed by the Guardian on Tuesday, there had been calls from Labour MPs for McSweeney’s resignation.

One senior Labour source described McSweeney as “the great survivor” after Starmer told an assembled meeting in Downing Street he was confident no staff had briefed against Streeting.

Some senior ministers including the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, had suggested there could be a leak inquiry into the briefings about the threat of a leadership challenge.

However, Starmer appeared keen to bring an end to the episode without launching a formal investigation, while warning his aides about “the high standards that he expects from staff, and if anyone falls below those standards there will be consequences”.