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Wes Streeting has denied wanting to oust Keir Starmer, comparing rumours he is plotting a leadership challenge to conspiracy theories.
The UK health secretary on Wednesday morning categorically ruled out a bid to challenge the prime minister, describing rumours as “unhelpful” and “self-defeating”.
Asked if he would rule out demanding Starmer’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 No 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.
A spokesperson for Streeting was forced to deny reports that he has a group of about 50 Labour frontbenchers ready to walk away from government should the 26 November budget land badly.
The briefings came as part of a ploy to put down several senior Labour figures who are said to be “on manoeuvres” to supplant Starmer, according to reporting by the Guardian and others.
No 10 has singled out the health secretary to warn off other potential leadership challenges from senior Labour figures including the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, and the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, the reports said.
On Wednesday, 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.”
A No 10 insider, meanwhile, praised Streeting as a brilliant health secretary, and insisted the reports were all speculation.
The prime minister would fight any challenge to his leadership, the senior figure said, but added launching one would be irresponsible, and insisted Starmer was focused on governing.
However, one critic within government told several news outlets No 10 had gone into “full bunker mode”.
Challengers for the Labour leadership can initiate an election with the support of 20% of the party’s MPs, which now means 80 nominations would be needed.
Labour affiliates, including the trade unions, would be able to vote in the ballot alongside individual members.
