The Health Secretary has denied plotting to oust the Prime Minister amid reports of a potential leadership coup.
The denial from Wes Streeting came as Sir Keir Starmer’s loyalists within Downing Street are said to fear his job could be under threat, according to several news outlets.
But a spokesman for Mr Streeting insisted he was entirely focused on his job as Health Secretary.
The unexpected briefing war which emerged on Tuesday night appeared to be an attempt to shore up Sir Keir’s position by No 10 insiders.
Reporting over the last week has suggested a growing number of Labour MPs are unhappy with the Prime Minister’s performance, and the party’s poll ratings.
The Prime Minister’s senior political aides are said to have warned attempts to oust him will lead to market chaos, and would upend international relations and the Labour Party.
At the heart of their worries is a possible leadership coup by Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary.
But a spokesman for Mr Streeting said the claims “are categorically untrue”.
He added: “Wes’s focus has entirely been on cutting waiting lists for the first time in 15 years, recruiting 2,500 more GPs, and rebuilding the NHS that saved his life.”
A No 10 insider insisted the reports were all hypothetical speculation.
The Prime Minister would fight any challenge to his leadership, they said, but added launching one would be irresponsible, and insisted Sir Keir was focused on governing.
The senior Downing Street figure, meanwhile, referred to Mr Streeting as a brilliant health secretary, and insisted No 10 remained focused on delivering the Government’s mandate from the general election last year.
However, Sir Keir Starmer’s biographer questioned the logic of those who had been briefing from within the corridors of power.
Tom Baldwin, a former journalist known to be close to the Prime Minister, wrote on social media: “I’m at a loss to understand why anyone would think this sort of briefing will help Keir Starmer, the Government, or even their own cause.
“Some people just can’t resist, I guess, but it’s all a bit nuts.”