Wes Streeting has publicly slammed Keir Starmer’s leadership as “technocratic”, voicing frustration at the direction of the Government. In new remarks set to spark further speculation about a planned leadership coup, the Health Secretary accused No. 10 of issuing an “attempted drive-by” on him last month.

Mr Streeting was accused by Downing Street sources of plotting a coup against Sir Keir, in an attempt to pre-empt a potential leadership challenge and boost Labour MP support for the Prime Minister. However the briefings backfired and undermined Sir Keir, making him appear desperate and weak. Mr Streeting said the late-night press stories “came from the blue”, and he “couldn’t understand what on Earth they were thinking”.

The PM’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney was accused of a ‘drive by shooting’ against Mr Streeting (Image: Getty)

“I could not understand the political strategy of people who purport to be the Prime Minister’s allies going out and saying he’s fighting for his job.”

Speaking to the New Statesman, Mr Streeting said he is “pretty frustrated” with the government, as rumours continue to swirl that Sir Keir will face a leadership challenge next year.

He insisted that while Labour has done “a huge amount” since gaining power last year, “that’s not reflected in the polls, and I don’t think it’s even reflected in our storytelling. I think we sell ourselves short.”

Without criticising the Prime Minister directly, the top Cabinet minister lashed out at the government’s “practical, technocratic approach” to leadership.

He warned that Labour is in danger of presenting itself as the “maintenance department for the country.”

“The problem with that kind of practical, technocratic approach is that if someone else comes along and says, ‘Well, I’ve got a maintenance company too, and mine’s cheaper,’ why wouldn’t people go, ‘OK, well, we’ll give that maintenance team a try’?”

While he denies plotting to take the top job, Mr Streeting set out what would likely be his pitch to Labour MPs and the membership should he have the opportunity to stand.

The Health Secretary argued: “We will certainly not be true to our values and our soul if we try and out-reform Reform.

“We can take them on and beat them with values-driven Labour arguments. We can reunite the centre and the left, and I think that is the historic responsibility that we have.

“It will be Labour or Reform, and that is a battle not just between left and right, but between right and wrong, between progressives and reactionaries, and between hope or hate. We cannot let them win.”