Chris Mason,Political editor and
Kate Whannel,Political reporter
Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls from senior ministers to sack whoever was behind briefings to the media that the PM is facing a leadership challenge.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Health Secretary Wes Streeting were both named as potential challengers in the anonymous briefings – now both are calling for whoever was behind them to be found and sacked.
It comes as Sir Keir apologised to Streeting for the episode, which the PM is said to be “incadescent” about.
It has intensified pressure on the prime minister’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, whom some – including senior figures in government – hold ultimately responsible for the briefings, as well as the overall culture inside No 10.
Both Streeting and Miliband have stopped short of publicly criticising McSweeney, and on Wednesday Streeting made a point of praising his role in Labour’s general election victory.
Speaking to the BBC, Miliband said it’s been a “bad couple of days”, adding: “We’ve got to learn the lessons of this episode and say this is not where the focus should be.”
He said he was confident the prime minister would want to find who the anonymous briefer was and “get rid of them if he can find out”.
“He hates it when things get leaked, he hates it when cabinet colleagues get briefed against.
“People listening to this programme might think ‘if he hates it, why can’t he stop it’.
“The truth is, sometimes these things do happen. There are noises off and you can never quite know where they are coming from.”
Miliband’s name has been discussed by some Labour MPs as another possible challenger to the prime minister.
Asked if he would rule out returning as Labour leader, he replied: “Yes.”
He added: “I had the best inoculation technique against wanting to be leader of the Labour Party which is that I was leader of the Labour Party, between 2010 and 2015.
“I’ve got the T-shirt – that chapter’s closed.”
Sir Keir apologised to Streeting in a brief phone call on Wednesday evening, however supporters of the health secretary are said to be irritated that briefing against him has continued.
Those around the health secretary argue that “this kind of briefing culture followed Keir Starmer from opposition into government”.
There are a declining number of advisers who were with Sir Keir in opposition and are still working for him now.
McSweeney is one of them, and the most senior. He has been approached for comment and not replied.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Sir Keir had “lost control of his government… and lost the trust of the British people”.
She said McSweeney was responsible for the culture in No 10 and asked if the prime minister still had confidence in him.
Sir Keir replied: “Morgan McSweeney, my team and I are absolutely focused on delivering for the country.
“Let me be clear, of course, I’ve never authorised attacks on cabinet members, I appointed them to their post because they’re the best people to carry out their jobs.”
He added that “any attack on any member of my cabinet is completely unacceptable” and specifically praised Streeting for doing a “great job”.
Speaking after PMQs, the prime minister’s press secretary told reporters the briefings against Streeting had come “from outside No 10” and that the prime minister had full confidence in McSweeney.
The spokesperson refused to say whether there was a leak inquiry, but did say leaks would be “dealt with”.