A ‘fake’ plot spread by Downing Street to reinforce Starmer turns against him and compromises his leadership

Let us remember that the premier British had to renounce its cuts agenda at the beginning of the year to quell an internal revolt, that the Corbynista faction of Labor split in September to form a new party, and that same month its ambassador in Washington resigned in a chain, Peter Mandelsonlinked to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epsteinand his number two, Angela Raynerpunctuated by a corruption scandal in the acquisition of a home.

But what happened this week has exposed its weakness on all fronts. Number 10 Downing Street said during a briefing on Tuesday that Starmer would stand up to any challenge to his leadership.

The prime minister’s entourage also leaked that his Secretary of Health, Wes Streetinghad managed to convince fifty Labor deputies to resign in case the Government did not carry out the budgets and Starmer did not resign from office. A full-fledged plot to seize power from him.

There was only one problem. That this plot never existed.

On Wednesday, Streeting himself and his allies denied they were plotting to overthrow Starmer. That, the Health Secretary explained, was nothing more than a leak typical of the “toxic culture” of Downing Street which, in addition, was “totally counterproductive” given its falsehood.

Streeting ruled out, however, that those responsible for the leak spoke on behalf of the prime minister. In a telephone conversation they had on Wednesday night, Starmer apologized “for the situation” in which he had been involved.

Several Labor deputies considered, according to what was published in the British press, that the leak perfectly reflected the “bunker mentality” that guides the actions of Starmer’s inner circle. There are many party members who attribute responsibility for what happened to their chief of staff, Morgan McSweeneyarchitect of the resounding electoral victory of July 4, 2024. These deputies not only point to him, but also ask for the head of the spin doctor Irish.

Although he has promised to “deal with anyone responsible for leaking [información] against the ministers”, Starmer remains convinced that McSweeney was not the culprit. The prime minister, however, opened an internal investigation to determine responsibilities, as confirmed Anna Turleythe president of the Labor Party.

“I have spoken to Keir before about these types of leaks that occur and, as he always says, if he finds the person, he will get rid of them. And I am totally sure he would,” stressed the current Secretary of Energy Security, Ed Milibandprotagonist of the historic defeat of Labor against the conservatives of David Cameron in the 2015 parliamentary elections.

“I hate the culture of leaks. But it’s an old aspect of politics. Like I said, I was there between Blair and Brown… So, unfortunately, these things happen, but the important thing is to keep the focus on the mission,” concluded Starmer’s predecessor at the head of Labor in Sky News.

The British press quotes a Cabinet member who acknowledges that “if it was an orchestrated campaign to strengthen the prime minister, it has had the opposite effect; it has failed spectacularly.” “I don’t see how Morgan [McSweeney] can survive when Keir has ended up in a weaker position than before,” adds this same source.

Another sector of the party justifies, however, Downing Street’s growing distrust of the figure of Streeting. The head of the Health portfolio is an emerging figure among the ranks of Labor. He sounds like one of Starmer’s possible successors, although in the pools he usually appears behind Andy Burnhamthe current mayor of Manchester.

In favor of Streeting, member of the sector blairita of the party, plays into the fact that Burnham, one of the top representatives of the party’s left wing, does not hold any seat in Parliament. An essential requirement to succeed Starmer without having to exhaust the legislature.

Fragility

On the eve of the official visit to London of the president of the United States, Donald Trump(that is, just two months ago), the British Prime Minister called his deputies to a meeting on the banks of the Thames to ask them to close ranks with the Government. Much of the Labor caucus had lost confidence in Downing Street.

Many did not understand his turn to the right on issues as sensitive for the party as the economy or immigration. Starmer’s risky strategy only sought to contain the rise in the polls of Reform UK, the ultra party of Nigel Faragewhich, however, remains at the top in practically all the polls.

In that quote, revealed by ReutersStarmer was asking his people for a break due to the evident lack of results from his Government. For his fellow members, accumulating more than a year in power – with an overwhelming majority in Parliament – ​​without having anything to boast about is too long.

The prime minister seemed to have lost his strength, but at that meeting he showed himself willing to face any leadership dispute that might arise after the presentation of the budget, scheduled for November 26, or after the local elections next May. But since then doubts about his ability to maintain leadership have only grown.