Such is the furious pitch of the war between the Streeting camp and the No10 team that staff in Downing Street were last night discussing whether to sack the Health Secretary. Circular firing squad…
Streeting has been accused by No10 of co-ordinating with Anas Sarwar over the weekend to come out against Starmer. His team denies this. The Health Secretary has also released some of his (erudite and Starmer-critical) WhatsApp messages with Peter Mandelson in order to stave off claims from rival leadership teams that he was too close to the disgraced ex-ambassador. A communications flurry – ironically sharing ministerial texts with Mandelson has now been banned by Cabinet Office civil servants after Wes’ stunt…
Guido hears discussions were not raised with the PM’s level, though serious proposals were considered to remove Streeting from post, in order to make an example of him to assert Starmer’s authority after the Sarwar intervention was shot down. A No10 source says acting joint Chief of Staff Vidhya Alakeson led the overexcited planning effort against Streeting…
A Downing Street source tells Guido the situation has calmed overnight, though some expect Political Cabinet today to produce fireworks. No10 staff are furious at Streeting who is perceived as far more actively jostling for the leadership than any other would-be contender. Ed Miliband made calls this morning to “moveon.org” from the briefing and focus on entirely changing Starmer’s policy agenda. The PM’s trolley rattles on with about one wheel left…
Ed Miliband has warned that “this has got to be a moment of change” for the Labour government and that the Cabinet + MPs were “on the precipice” yesterday as the party wobbled on Starmer. He said they “looked at the alternatives.” Every now ‘loyal’ Cabinet minister is looking forward to pulling the weak PM in their policy direction…
Miliband said claims he wanted to stand himself were “baloney” and ruled out a future leadership challenge (“Yes, yes. I’m not going to run, yeah.“) repeating that his previous time leading the party had “innocculated” him. Miliband refused to comment on the briefing war between Streeting and No10, telling them to “move on”…
No10 sources have long suspected Miliband of plotting a kingmaker role and/or the Chancellorship for himself anyway. The Energy Secretary said the point of this government was to shift from the rule of the “rich and powerful” and that it had not yet done so enough, adding that policy mistakes like Winter Fuel were damaging. The soft left is driving the bus now…
The latest No10 shake-up continues with the imminent departure of Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald, has long been viewed as a blocker. Starmer still grappling for survival after failing for so long to fix the machinery of government…
Wes Streeting is launching a defence of his position tonight. His allies have accused No10 of attempting to brief against him. There were claims that the Health Secretary was co-ordinating with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who called for the PM to resign today…
A No10 source tells Guido “Wes is right to be annoyed at briefing today,” adding: “There were several meetings today dedicated to ****ing him over. People are trying to find any angle to go after him, even more so than Angela.” Toxic…
Streeting is also releasing details of his private WhatsApp messages with Peter Mandelson in order to stave off attacks from opponents who claim he is tarred by the Prince of Darkness brush via his close relationship Mandelson. Also lettings Labour MPs know what his leadership positions are. Big effort underway here…
Starmer got a standing ovation from the PLP at his meeting with them tonight. Obviously…
Nigel Farage has announced he will unveil Reform’s Shadow Cabinet in a “few days’ time“. Reports emerged earlier this month that Robert Jenrick will get the Shadow Chancellor brief, with Zia Yusuf taking home affairs, and Tice getting business and energy. Before the weekend, Guido heard rumours of Suella getting education. As reported in Guido Whispers…
He added that a general election “could come more quickly” than 2027, and opened the candidate application portal this afternoon. Starmer is imploding, stranger things have happened…
Allies of Morgan McSweeney say National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell had a significant role in getting Mandelson into post as ambassador. One old Blairite helping out another…
Powell and Mandelson go back decades, having worked hand-in-glove throughout the New Labour years. Their long-running partnership includes Mandelson emailing Powell in 2002 to help arrange Tony Blair’s Downing Street meeting with Jeffrey Epstein. The full rundown of their relationship:
Tim Allen and Morgan McSweeney have resigned effectively over their close relationship to Mandelson. Could Powell be next…
Starmer loyalist and Housing Secretary Steve Reed told Sky News that Starmer should not be replaced:
“We saw what the Tories did. They were in power for 14 years, and after 2016, I think we had nine education secretaries, seven chancellors, and five Prime Ministers. Doomscrolling through Prime Ministers doesn’t resolve the problem.”