We are seeing widespread discussion this morning regarding the Prime Minister's office strategy disclosed last night, and the reaction it has triggered. Among reporters who have been polling Labour MPs, the general view is that the briefing has backfired, and weakened Keir Starmer’s standing within his party.
Significant Reactions from Party Sources
- The BBC’s chief political correspondent has published an analysis titled “Attempts to shore up Starmer’s authority may have failed.” He states:
The crucial question this morning is whether the briefings have made Sir Keir increasingly or decreasingly exposed.
Considering the rancour of the comments I have received from multiple sections of the Labour Party, the unambiguous response is: increasingly exposed.
One prominent Labour insider questioned why Sir Keir’s allies had “validated what was a off-limits topic” by overtly considering the idea of a leadership challenge …
An MP remarked the strategy was “utterly reckless and self-destructive,” noting: “They’re in the stronghold attacking everyone who’s outside the fortress protecting it. And hapless unaware Keir has no idea he’s in the bunker.”
- Jessica Elgot says Labour MPs are staggered by the No 10 approach.
Obtained at least 10 comments from Labour MPs overnight all on the same topic. “Why are they doing?”
- A political commentator says that, although there are sources in No 10 claiming to have solid information that Wes Streeting was plotting against Starmer, Labour MPs are not swayed.
Streeting’s activities, as long reported, have certainly drawn much attention in recent months. Whether advocating the UK to swiftly acknowledge a Palestinian state back in June or denouncing assertions that the far right is merely practicing “free speech”, he has been willing to go outside the party stance. His commendation for New York mayor Zohran Mamdani (“examples for progressives the world over”) also caused surprise and was seen as part of a conscious attempt to court the soft left.
But nothing here, of course, amounts to open rebellion – and here’s the issue No 10 will have to address today: if it has solid information that Streeting is plotting against Starmer, why is he still serving in the cabinet?
The danger for Downing Street is evident: it has dramatically raised the leadership question, giving every MP and journalist in the country a new reason to raise it. Rather than quelling conjecture over Starmer’s future – as it managed in the aftermath of Labour conference – it has encouraged it. And rather than consolidating the party around the Prime Minister it endangers only producing the opposite.
- Robert Peston reports some MPs may skip PMQs today out of protest.
From a Labour MP who makes an effort to be faithful to the PM and Downing Street, but feels greatly betrayed by the internecine strategizing of the circle around Starmer:
“Some Labour MPs are planning on boycotting PMQs today in dissent at the briefing. If the PM thinks we are undisciplined and too naive to understand economics, then why on earth would we go out and cheer him on?”
- The Times’s chief political commentator says Streeting is profiting.
Senior Labour source writes: “They have managed the impossible: they have made Wes well-liked with the ordinary MPs.
- The Telegraph’s political editor says MPs have been struck by Streeting’s appearances this morning.
The irony this morning: If the Starmer associate statements were an attempt to weaken the enthusiasm out of a Wes Streeting low-profile bid for leadership it appears to have done the contrary for some people.
Streeting’s primary strength is his ability as a speaker and breezing through the morning tour with charm (jokes about Traitors and JFK conspiracies when asked about plotting) may have just emphasized that point.
“Wes is now more popular because he is so self-assured,” says one minister. “He left me astonished in addressing every question frankly and with charm.”
Another minister acknowledges Streeting’s appearance has just reiterated people what a strong media performer he is.
- The Financial Times’s political editor says in an article this morning No 10 has triggered a crisis.
One minister described it as the “some of the strangest briefing choices I have ever seen” and on Wednesday accusations were spreading in Downing Street after Sir Keir Starmer’s team conjured up a issue of authority out of nowhere, just two weeks prior to the Budget.
Tuesday’s briefing from inside Number 10 that Starmer would contest any leadership challenge propelled informal Westminster rumors into a government problem, as the prime minister displayed the fragility of his own situation.
Further Political News
Among reasons employed by those in No 10 who have been briefing about the threats of a bid for power has been that this would concern the markets. This mirrors the argument made by the chancellor, when she was questioned by Andrew Marr on LBC last week and asked if she would resign if she broke the manifesto promise on taxes in the budget. Reeves responded: "What do you think would happen in financial markets if I did that?”
In an interview on the Today programme this morning, the More in Common pollster, said that reasoning like this were very damaging to the parties making them. He stated:
I think there’s a real risk to that reasoning, because what it does is it supports what we call ‘the approach of cannot’. So rather than ministers being seen to be in control and have a positive plan, it’s instead the government constantly stating, ‘We can’t do this because of the investors’, or ‘We can’t do this on immigration because of things like the European court of human rights.’
And what that does in response is it makes people look to politicians who are doing the “strategy of can’t.
And what you see is people like Nigel Farage in Reform or Zack Polanski in the Greens are claiming ‘No, no, we’ll do something completely distinct and put government back in control.’
Scheduled Matters
Early: The Lib Dem deputy leader and Treasury spokesperson delivers a speech about her organization’s budget proposals.
12pm: The Prime Minister confronts Kemi Badenoch at PMQs.
Lunchtime: MPs debate two Tory resolutions, one saying taxes should not go up in the budget, and another saying the government should remove environmental charges on energy bills.
{1.45pm
