A senior British government minister on Wednesday denied allegations that he is planning to oust Prime Minister Keir Starmer, amid growing concern within the Labour Party over poor poll results less than 18 months after its landslide election victory.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting described rumours of a leadership challenge from Labour officials and lawmakers as “self-defeating and self-destructive.” He spoke after aides to the prime minister told the media that Starmer would resist any attempts to unseat him.
“It’s totally self-defeating briefing, not least because it’s not true,” Streeting told Sky News, adding that the reports were likely inspired by reality TV, referring to the show Celebrity Traitors.
At 42, Streeting is considered one of the government’s most effective communicators and is seen as a potential future party leader.
In the House of Commons, Starmer dismissed claims by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch of a “toxic culture in Downing Street” and a government embroiled in “civil war.” “This is a united team,” he said, noting that Streeting and his Cabinet colleagues are “doing a great job.”
Although a leadership challenge this early in a five-year term would be unusual, Labour MPs are anxious over polls showing the party trailing the hard-right Reform UK led by Nigel Farage, though still ahead of the Conservative Party.
Concerns are also mounting ahead of the annual budget statement on Nov. 26, expected to include income tax increases that could break election pledges.
Since taking office in July 2024, Starmer’s government has struggled with sluggish economic growth, strained public services, and high living costs. Recent figures show unemployment rising to 5% for the three months to September, the highest since 2016 outside of the pandemic period.
Under Labour rules, a leadership challenge requires support from 20% of MPs, currently 81 members. Britain’s parliamentary system allows a governing party to change its prime minister without holding an early election, though unelected leaders often face pressure to seek a fresh mandate.
Between the last two national elections in December 2019 and July 2024, the UK had three Conservative prime ministers – Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak.