Ministers Demand PM Remove Those Behind Anonymous Leaks

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Health Secretary Wes Streeting, both named as potential challengers in the anonymous briefing, are now demanding that whoever was behind it be found and dismissed.

This comes after Sir Keir apologized to Streeting for the incident, which reportedly left the Prime Minister "furious."

This has increased pressure on the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, Morgan McSweeney, whom some—including senior government figures—hold ultimately responsible for the briefing as well as the overall culture within Number 10.

One ally of the prime minister told the BBC: "Morgan is a proxy for Keir. They are coming for Morgan because they want to get Keir. This isn't a parliamentary party battle, it's a Labour elite battle."

Both Streeting and Miliband have refrained from publicly criticizing McSweeney, and on Wednesday Streeting praised her role in the Labour Party's general election victory.

On Thursday, Streeting brushed off questions about McSweeney's future, calling them "a silly Westminster soap opera" and "yesterday's news."

 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."

Some Labour MPs have discussed Miliband's name as another potential challenger to the Prime Minister.

Asked if he would rule out a return as Labour leader, he said: "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 apologized in a brief phone call with Streeting on Wednesday evening, although the Health Secretary's supporters are reportedly angry that the briefings against him continue.

The Health Secretary's supporters argue that "this kind of briefing culture came after Keir Starmer came to power from the opposition."

The number of advisers who worked with Sir Keir while in opposition and who still work for him is dwindling.

McSweeney is one of them, and the most senior. He has been contacted for comment, but has not responded.

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Sir Keir had "lost control of his government... and the trust of the British people."

He said McSweeney was responsible for the culture at Number 10 and asked whether the Prime Minister still had confidence in her.

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 that the briefing against Streeting came "from outside Number 10" and that the Prime Minister has full confidence in McSweeney.

The spokesman declined to say whether the leak would be investigated, but said it would be "dealt with."