British health minister Wes Streeting denied on Wednesday that he was plotting to bring down Keir Starmer, following reports from unnamed allies of the prime minister who suggested a potential coup could occur later this month after the budget.
Starmer led his Labour Party to one of the largest election victories in British history in 2024. However, just 16 months later, the party is struggling in the polls and is set to break one of its main election promises by increasing income taxes for the first time since the 1970s.
On Wednesday, several British media outlets cited Starmer’s allies stating that the prime minister would resist any challenges to his leadership, with Streeting and interior minister Shabana Mahmood mentioned as possible successors.
HEALTH MINISTER SAYS THE BRIEFING IS UNTRUE
“That briefing is categorically untrue,” Streeting told BBC Radio.
During his early media appearances, Streeting argued that the briefings suggesting a leadership challenge were counterproductive as they depicted Starmer as fighting for his job rather than focusing on improving Britain.
“I’m not going to demand the prime minister’s resignation,” he told Sky News. “I support the prime minister. I have done since he was elected leader of the Labour Party.”
British government bond prices fell on Wednesday and underperformed against U.S. and German bonds, possibly indicating investor unease over Starmer’s future. The pound dropped by approximately a third of a cent against the U.S. dollar.
Market strategists expressed concerns that if Starmer were replaced, it might lead to a left-leaning candidate taking over and increasing government borrowing.
CHALLENGE FROM NIGEL FARAGE’S PARTY
Much of Labour’s unpopularity has resulted from tax increases and unsuccessful attempts to cut welfare spending, suggesting the budget could be the next point of contention.
Two Labour lawmakers expressed frustration with the briefing, highlighting what they considered a dysfunctional team around Starmer in Downing Street. One lawmaker, speaking anonymously, described the situation as feeling “very end of days.”
Opinion polls indicate that Starmer is one of the most unpopular prime ministers ever, with his party trailing Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK party for months.
However, ousting a Labour leader is particularly challenging because any challenge requires the support of 20% of the party’s lawmakers in parliament, equating to roughly 80 members agreeing on an alternative candidate.
The centre-left Labour Party is now preparing for the budget on November 26, with finance minister Rachel Reeves suggesting she may need to raise taxes to address a fiscal deficit, following a previous tax increase of 40 billion pounds ($53.7 billion), which she described as a one-time event.
