Wes Streeting has denied wanting to oust the Prime Minister, comparing rumours he is plotting a leadership challenge to conspiracy theories.
The Health Secretary categorically ruled out a bid to challenge Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday morning, describing rumours as “unhelpful” and “self-defeating”.
Asked if he would rule out demanding Sir Keir’s resignation after the Budget, he told Sky News: “Yes, and nor did I shoot JFK.
“I don’t know where Lord Lucan is, had nothing to do with Shergar, and I do think that the US did manage to do the moon landings. I don’t think they were fake.”
His comments follow a flurry of late-night briefings from Number 10 in which allies of the Prime Minister came out fighting on his behalf amid fears his job could be under threat after the Budget in two weeks’ time.
The briefings came as part of a ploy to put down several senior Labour figures who are said to be “on manoeuvres” to supplant Sir Keir, according to reporting by the Guardian, Times and BBC, among others.
No 10 has singled out the Health Secretary to warn off other potential leadership challenges from senior Labour figures including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, the reports said.
On Wednesday, Mr Streeting dismissed the rumours, telling Sky News: “I think whoever’s been briefing this has been watching too much Celebrity Traitors, and this is just about the worst attack on a faithful I’ve seen since Joe Marler was kicked out and banished in the final.
“It’s totally self-defeating briefing, not least because it’s not true and I don’t understand how anyone thinks it’s helpful to the Prime Minister either.”
