Kemi Badenoch declares Keir Starmer is ‘at war with Cabinet’ after Wes Streeting denies plot to oust PM

Thanks for following our coverage of Prime Minister’s Questions as we wrap up our live updates here.

It proved to be a bruising encounter for Sir Keir Starmer as Kemi Badenoch focused her attacks on the Downing Street briefings against Wes Streeting.

The Conservative leader is growing in confidence at the despatch box and landed a stinging blow on the Prime Minister, telling him he has ‘lost control of his Government, lost the confidence of the Labour Party and lost the trust of the British people.’

Sir Keir notably defended Mr Streeting by saying any attack on his Cabinet is ‘unacceptable’ but wasn’t as resolute when asked if he had confidence in his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.

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Sir Keir Starmer’s woes deepened further today after the so-called ‘Bible of the Left’ appeared to turn on him.

In a remarkable cover story, this week’s edition of the New Statesman political magazine asks whether the Prime Minister realises ‘how much trouble he’s in’.

The astonishing 2,500-article details the ‘mutinous talk’ within Labour ranks as Sir Keir faces claims of plots against his leadership after just 16 months in office.

The magazine notes how, among Labour MPs and behind their leader’s back, there is ‘widespread mockery, sarcasm, name-calling and the darkest of gallows humour’.

It also includes fresh briefings against Sir Keir, including withering assessments of his performance as PM from Labour insiders.

One aide tells the Left-leaning publication: ‘He doesn’t understand politics or the Labour Party, he doesn’t have a vision, he’s a terrible communicator.

‘We’ve always known these things about him, but we put up with it when we were doing OK against the Tories.’

Here’s one of the most memorable moments from PMQs as the Prime Minister insisted his Cabinet is ‘united’.

The statement was met with howls of laughter by Conservative MPs which eventually forced Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to intervene.

Keir Starmer has faced demands to sack his closest aide for a bungled bid to kill off Labour leadership threats – as speculation mounted about a leadership challenge.

Just a fortnight before a crucial Budget, the PM’s supporters made clear he would fight any bid to topple him in an extraordinary pre-emptive strike on plotters.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has hit back at overnight briefings by accusing No10 of ‘self-destruction’ and urging Sir Keir to fire those responsible.

In the Commons, Sir Keir denied he had ‘authorised’ any barbs against his own ministers – and, when questioned about his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, said: ‘My team and I are absolutely focused on delivering for the country.’

Earlier, Mr Streeting dismissed ‘daft’ claims he is planning to challenge the premier and suggested those conducting the Downing Street briefings had been watching too much Traitors on TV.

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The Prime Minister’s press secretary left open the possibility that Sir Keir Starmer could sack people within his No 10 operation following a briefing war at the top of Government.

Asked if the PM was prepared to sack people found to have briefed against Cabinet ministers, his press secretary said:

I would point you to what he has said about this previously, which is any attacks on Cabinet ministers are completely unacceptable and will always be dealt with.

Briefings against Health Secretary Wes Streeting in particular were ‘a series of quotes attributed to outside Downing Street’, she suggested, when asked if a leak inquiry was under way.

The Prime Minister has full confidence in both the Health Secretary and his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, No 10 also indicated.

Asked if briefings that Sir Keir’s insists he is ready to fight against leadership challenges made him look weak, the press secretary replied that ‘the Prime Minister’s leadership speaks for itself’, and pointed to to the three trade deals he had struck, as well as efforts to restore stability to the economy, and reform public services.

Keir Starmer’s chief of staff was branded ‘toast’ today after Labour MPs blamed him for a botched briefing against Wes Streeting.

The knives were out for Morgan McSweeney following an extraordinary overnight briefing in which a senior No 10 source claimed the health secretary was planning an ‘imminent coup’ against the Prime Minister.

As Labour descended into civil war this morning, Mr Streeting angrily dismissed the claim and urged the PM to sack those responsible for the ‘toxic’ briefing.

Downing Street declined to comment on the source of the briefings.

But furious Labour MPs warned that No 10 had ‘lost the plot’ by manufacturing a leadership crisis.

Daily Mail columnist Dan Hodges believes Sir Keir Starmer will have to throw his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney ‘out of the balloon’ following Prime Minister’s Questions.

Asked by Kemi Badenoch if he had confidence in Mr McSweeney, Sir Keir did not answer directly. ‘Morgan McSweeney, my team and I are absolutely focused on delivering for the country,’ he said.

Sir Keir heaped praise on Mr Streeting – who is in Manchester for an NHS conference and revealed earlier that he has yet to speak to the premier.

Furious MPs are accusing No10 of ‘losing the plot’, with fingers pointed at Mr McSweeney. Even admirers of the election campaign architect acknowlege he is on ‘borrowed time’ – but there are question how long Sir Keir would survive if his long-time ally has to go.

Leadership rumours have been sweeping Westminster with Labour at historic poll lows, and friends of Sir Keir are concerned he could be dethroned if the Budget – expected to include massive tax hikes – lands badly.

Here’s the moment the Prime Minister responded to claims of a ‘toxic culture’ from within Downing Street after Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticised No 10 over briefing against him.

Watch the moment at PMQs below:

In what would have been an uncomfortable Prime Minister’s Questions for Sir Keir Starmer, here’s perhaps the most stinging rebuke from Kemi Badenoch which she unleashed in her sixth and final question.

Here’s the exchange in full:

Since they came in, it’s been disaster after disaster. The Deputy Prime Minister, the new Deputy Prime Minister, is clueless about how many illegal migrant sex offenders he’s let loose. The Culture Secretary breaking the rules to give her donor a top job. Taxes set to rise even further, unemployment at levels not seen since lockdown.

And in the middle of it, a weak Prime Minister at war with his own Cabinet.

It’s not just him, it is all of them. There is no replacement, it is all of them. Two weeks before the Budget, isn’t it the case that this Prime Minister has lost control of his Government, he’s lost the confidence of his party, and lost the trust of the British people?

In his response, the Prime Minister said:

The stupid mistakes were made over 14 long years. They broke the economy and now they think they can lecture us, and now they’ve got this unserious idea that they can find £47 billion of cuts without saying where they’re going to come from.

Here’s footage of Kemi Badenoch telling the Commons the Government has ‘descended into civil war’ in what she described as a ‘real scandal’ just two weeks out from the Budget.

Sir Keir Starmer branded Reform leader Nigel Farage ‘spineless’ as he responded to a question about migrant hotels.

Mr Farage said Reform-led West Northamptonshire council will be issuing foreclosure notices on three migrant hotels and asks if Sir Keir approves of closures being sped up.

Sir Keir says Labour will correct the ‘mess’ which was ‘inherited’ by the Conservatives adding there are around 200 remaining from 400 hotels.

But after challenging Mr Farage to condemn remarks by a Reform councillor who was overheard describing children in care as ‘evil’, the Prime Minister said the leader was ‘spineless’ when he didn’t in his question.

Keir Starmer was battered at PMQs today amid demands to sack his closest aide for a bungled bid to kill off Labour leadership threats.

Just a fortnight before a crucial Budget, the PM’s supporters made clear overnight that he will fight any leadership challenge in an extraordinary pre-emptive strike on plotters.

But Health Secretary Wes Streeting immediately hit back by accusing No10 of ‘self-destruction’ and urging Sir Keir to sack those responsible for the briefing.

In the Commons, Sir Keir denied he had ‘authorised’ any barbs against his own ministers. ‘Any attack on any member of my Cabinet is completely unacceptable,’ he said.

Asked by Kemi Badenoch if he had confidence in chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir did not answer directly. ‘Morgan McSweeney, my team and I are absolutely focused on delivering for the country,’ he said.

Read the full story here:

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has asked Sir Keir Starmer if he will ‘sack’ Sir Robbie Gibb from the BBC board after he accused the former Downing Street communications chief of ‘interfering in editorial decisions’.

Sir Keir says he is a ‘strong supporter’ of the BBC and adds he agrees the corporation has been undermined by the Conservatives but does not answer the specific question about Sir Robbie, adding:

I’m not going to go into the individual runnings of the BBC.

Kemi Badenoch has declared Sir Keir Starmer is ‘at war with his own Cabinet’ in her sixth and final question at PMQs.

In a question which referenced Justice Secretary David Lammy on prison releases, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy breaching rules on appointment and Rachel Reeves and the Budget, she said Sir Keir was a ‘weak Prime Minister’ at the centre of chaos.

Isn’t it the case, he has lost control of his Government, the confidence of his party and the trust of the British people.

In his response, Sir Keir says the Conservatives ‘broke the economy’ and added the policy to scrap stamp duty is ‘unserious’.

He ends by saying investment is going up and mortgages are going down.

Kemi Badenoch has used her penultimate question to ask the Prime Minister why he is issuing ‘welfare giveaways’ in relation to apparent plans to lift the two-child benefit cap.

Ms Badenoch says the only way to avoid what she described as a ‘tax doomloop’ is to cut spending instead of hiking taxes at the next Budget.

Sir Keir responds by saying Labour had to increase taxes to address the ‘mess’ left by the previous Government.

He then asks if Ms Badenoch can explain how she would raise the money Labour did at the last Budget.

Ms Badenoch has pivoted to unemployment in her fourth question as she grilled the Prime Minister over figures this week showing the number has risen to a five-year high at 5%.

In his response, Sir Keir says there are 329,000 more people in work since the start of the year but says he accepts the party has to do better on unemployment.

He then says Labour is working with businesses to tackle ill health and hoping to transform Job Centres to tackle the issue.

Ms Badenoch used her third question to ask the Prime Minister whether he believed there would be a ‘market meltdown’ if Mr Streeting took over as leader.

Sir Keir began his answer by insisting his top team is ‘united’ which was met with howls of laughter from the opposition benches.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is forced to intervene, telling MPs:

If people want to audition for the pantomime, I suggest you go to the Old Vic.

Ms Badenoch used her second question to ask Keir Starmer if he has confidence in his Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney.

Starmer responds by telling Badenoch:

Morgan McSweeney, my team and I absolutely focussed on delivering for the country. Let me be clear… I’ve never authorised attacks on cabinet members.

Kemi Badenoch has kicked off PMQs by asking Sir Keir Starmer if the Health Secretary is right that a ‘toxic culture’ is in Downing Street.

Sir Keir responds by saying any attack on a member of his Cabinet is ‘unacceptable’ as he insists he is focused on ‘rebuilding and renewal’.

Sir Keir Starmer is on his feet in the Commons as Prime Minister’s Questions gets underway.

Stick with us for updates throughout the session.

Kemi Badenoch has changed her approach at the despatch box, preferring to skewer the Prime Minister over a single issue instead of firing a plethora of questions as she did in her early exchanges.

Let’s see what the Leader of the Opposition could focus on this week:

Ms Badenoch may well decide to draw further attention to the Prime Minister’s own future after it emerged allies were insisting he would fight any leadership challenge.

The economy has proved strong ground for Ms Badenoch at PMQs and with two weeks to go until the Budget, she may decide to take aim at Chancellor Rachel Reeves again after she promised no more tax rises after last year.

Figures earlier this week showed the overall unemployment rate hit 5% for the first time since the Covid pandemic with Reeves blamed for presiding over a ‘jobs bloodbath’

Justice Secretary David Lammy told the Commons yesterday that 91 prisoners have been let out by mistake in just seven months. It comes after the accidental release of high-profile prisoners which dominated PMQs when the deputies took charge last week.

Ms Badenoch may take Sir Keir to task over a five-day doctors’ strike which starts on Friday, in what will be the health service’s 13th round of industrial action.

The Liberal Democrats say briefings emerging from No 10 are ‘incredibly damaging’ to the markets ahead of the Budget in two weeks time.

Deputy leader Daisy Cooper said:

I think that Wes Streeting should be focused on sorting out the crisis in the NHS, not the crisis in No 10. If No 10 has realised that the country is frustrated and they’ve internalised that as a party, that is a good thing because it gives us hope they might start to turn things around.

But on the other hand, we are just two weeks away from the Budget. These kind of stories are incredibly damaging for the markets and for investors, both domestic and international and as a country we don’t want that … to be so destabilising.

Britain needs to show it is ‘open for business’ she told reporters after a speech at a pub in London on Lib Dem budget proposals.

UK Government borrowing costs ticked higher on Wednesday morning, as the price of gilts – UK Government bonds – slipped in value amid speculation over a leadership challenge to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Yields on 10-year-gilts, which move counter to the price of the bonds, rose by 3 basis points to 4.42% in early trading. The yield on the longer-term 30-year-gilt also rose by a similar amount.

The rise come after yields had dropped significantly on Tuesday after rising unemployment and falling wage growth prompted predictions of interest rate cuts.

The value of the pound also moved 0.02% higher to 1.315 against the dollar.

The Prime Minister has reportedly told ministers that any attempted coup would destabilise Britain’s standing on the financial markets and its relationship with foreign governments.

Keir Starmer is facing mounting questions about his future after No10 launched an extraordinary pre-emptive strike on plotters.

The PM’s allies have delivered a stark warning that he will not go without a fight if challenged.

They singled out Wes Streeting as being ‘on manoeuvres’ – drawing a furious condemnation from the Cabinet minister who said the attack was ‘self-destructive’.

The chaos has ramped up speculation that Sir Keir might not have long left, with the Budget on November 26 and potentially disastrous local elections looming in May.

But how could Labour MPs oust Sir Keir before the next general election?

Sir Keir Starmer has left Downing Street as he heads to the Commons for PMQs.

The Prime Minister will surely be questioned over his own future after allies briefed he is ready to contest any leadership challenge from within the Labour party.

The chairwoman of the Red Wall group of Labour MPs said the party was ‘fighting like dogs’.

Bassetlaw MP Jo White earlier told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme:

Our enemies love nothing more than when we start fighting like dogs in public, and my message to those MPs who are running around with their tails held high: That this is neither the time or the place.

This is a group of people who think they’re much cleverer than the rest of us, who spend their time selectively briefing journalists and stirring the pot. I want to simply say: We’re not having it.

I’m not aware of a single person in the red wall group who’s involved in this. And if anyone, including Wes Streeting, wants to make a move, they would have to speak to us. He’s a London MP and it hasn’t happened and it’s not true.

Wes Streeting has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack whoever was responsible for behind-the-scenes briefings against him from Downing Street with Labour MPs increasingly calling for action.

Asked if he knew who was responsible he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain:

No. If I did, I would tell the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister would sack them.

Daily Mail columnist Dan Hodges today says the ‘universal reaction’ from Labour MPs and insiders is that Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmer’s Chief of Staff, should be dismissed.

Asked whether he was planning a leadership challenge, the Health Secretary told Sky News:

No, and 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.

Asked if he would rule out demanding Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation after the Budget, he said:

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.

Watch Mr Streeting’s interview on Sky News below:

Friends of Keir Starmer launched a dramatic ‘Stop Streeting’ campaign just a fortnight before the crucial Budget amid fears it could prompt a leadership challenge if it lands badly with huge tax hikes expected.

The Prime Minister’s supporters made clear he will fight any leadership challenge in an extraordinary pre-emptive strike on plotters.

Among those touted as replacements are Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who is seen as a rising star in the Labour Party.

One veteran aide said as many as ‘four leadership campaigns’ were already up and running. Ed Miliband and Louise Haigh are also seen as potential challengers.

The assault from No10 was seemingly timed to coincide with Mr Streeting touring broadcast studios for a big NHS announcement.

Good morning and welcome to the Daily Mail’s live coverage of Prime Minister’s Questions.

Sir Keir Starmer heads to the Commons today after his Health Secretary Wes Streeting denied a plot to oust him from Downing Street amid fears the Prime Minister could soon face a leadership challenge.

Last night, allies of Sir Keir insisted he would face down any attempt to remove him from office with Mr Streeting understood to be among those planning to make a move.

It comes just two weeks out from a Budget in which Labour looks set to break a manifesto promise not to raise taxes on working people.

After his deputy David Lammy stood in last week, Sir Keir returns to the Commons to take questions from Kemi Badenoch.

Join us for updates throughout the day plus the latest news and reaction from our team in Westminster.