Fallout from extraordinary briefing operation against Wes Streeting continues as calls grow for Starmer to sack his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney
Good morning. In an interview around this time yesterday morning, Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said that if Keir Starmer were to ring him about the anti-Streeting briefing by Starmer allies reported by the Guardian and others on Tuesday, Streeting would reply: “Why are you bothering with this?” It was an attempt to play down a new episode of Labour turmoil that has turned out to counter-productive for Starmer, though helpful for Streeting.
But, by the time the two men did speak last night, the conversation took a different turn.
Starmer apologised to Streeting, journalists have been told. The conversation was short, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under pressure to sack. The pair also agreed they would speak again soon – which doesn’t mean much (they both attend cabinet, and have to speak to each other), but is the sort of thing No 10 briefers say about a meeting to make it sound cordial.
Here is our analysis by Eleni Courea, Jessical Elgot and Pippa Crerar as to what is going on.
