Streeting hits out at 'toxic culture' amid infighting

WES STREETING hit out at the “toxic culture” around Sir Keir Starmer’s No.10 operation after a civil war erupted at the top of the Labour Party.

- DAVID HUGHES, DAVID LYNCH and CHRIS McKEON

Sir Keir Starmer during PMQs yesterday

The Prime Minister was forced to condemn “completely unacceptable” attacks on Mr Streeting over suspicions the Health Secretary is plotting a leadership challenge.

Senior No.10 sources said Sir Keir would fight any leadership challenge but suggested the briefing against Mr Streeting had not come from Downing Street.

The Prime Minister told MPs that he had “never authorised attacks” on Cabinet ministers.

Mr Streeting called for anyone behind the “juvenile” briefing against him to be sacked as he complained about the culture within Sir Keir's administration.

His criticism of the No.10 operation focused fresh attention of the Prime Minister's longtime ally and chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said “the Government has descended into a civil war” and asked Sir Keir to say whether he still had full confidence in Mr McSweeney.

“Morgan McSweeney, my team and I are absolutely focused on delivering for the country,” Sir Keir told her.

“I've never authorised attacks on Cabinet members. I appointed them to their posts because they are the best people to carry out their jobs”.

He said “any attack on any member of my Cabinet is completely unacceptable” and Mr Streeting was doing a “great job”.