No.10 Dismisses Wes Streeting’s Thinly-Veiled Attack On Starmer

No.10 has downplayed speculation that Wes Streeting had attacked Keir Starmer after warning against the government’s “technocratic” approach.

The health secretary is rumoured to be considering throwing his hat into the ring to replace Starmer, as his premiership looks increasingly unsteady – although Streeting has repeatedly denied any such accusations.

But, the cabinet minister still told the New Statesman he was “pretty frustrated” right now, and believes that the “huge amount” of work Labour has done since getting into office is “not reflected in the polls” or their storytelling.

He added: “I think we sell ourselves short.”

The health secretary claimed Labour is at risk of presenting itself as the “maintenance department of the country”, too.

He added: “The problem with that kind of practical, technocratic approach is that if someone else comes along and says, ‘Well, I’ve got a maintenance company too, and mine’s cheaper,’ why wouldn’t people go, ‘OK, well, we’ll give that maintenance team a try’?”

He notably did not mention his boss by name in the interview, but Starmer has been criticised for being too technocratic in the past.

Streeting also insisted he would not to “indulge” in questions about potentially becoming the prime minister in 2026, responding only with a pantomime style answer: “Oh no, he’s not.”

Starmer’s official spokesperson then side-stepped questions about Streeting’s dig during Thursday’s press briefing.

“I think what the health secretary is setting out is that the public voted for change. That’s what they want to see delivered, and again, that is exactly what the government is focused on doing. The government is united behind a manifesto of change,” he said.

When pushed again on the PM’s thoughts over Streeting’s interview, the spokesperson said: “The inheritance is clear, the public services are on their knees, a stagnant economy and families facing a cost of living crisis.

“That’s what the government is determined to do in terms of the action we take,” he said.

Asked if Starmer was embarrassed about the cabinet briefing against him, his representative insisted: “The government is focused on delivering change.”

Streeting is known for being outspoken about the direction of the government.

He caused a stir in October when he piled more pressure on the PM in the wake of Labour’s by-election defeat in Caerphilly, comparing the loss to a day in 2021 when Starmer almost quit as Labour leader.