UK Health Secretary Denies Plot to Oust Prime Minister Amid Leadership Speculation
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Health Secretary Wes Streeting refutes claims of a leadership challenge against Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as internal party tensions rise ahead of the upcoming budget announcement.
British Health Secretary Wes Streeting has denied allegations that he is plotting to replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer, dismissing such claims as "categorically untrue."
The speculation emerged following reports that allies of Starmer expressed concerns about a potential leadership challenge after the forthcoming budget announcement. Streeting criticized the briefings as "self-defeating nonsense" and emphasized his support for the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Starmer addressed the issue in Parliament, stating that he had not authorized any negative briefings against his colleagues. He affirmed, "I appointed them to their posts because they're the best people to carry out their jobs. Any attack on any member of my cabinet is completely unacceptable."
The internal discord arises ahead of the November 26 budget announcement, where Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to propose tax increases to address a fiscal deficit. This move may involve breaking a key election pledge by increasing the basic rate of income tax for the first time in decades.
Starmer's popularity has declined since Labour's landslide victory in July 2024. Recent polls indicate that only 17% of Britons approve of his performance as Prime Minister, while 73% disapprove.
The situation is further complicated by the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, which has been leading Labour in national polls for several months.
Despite the denials from Streeting and Starmer's efforts to maintain unity, the internal tensions highlight the challenges facing the Labour Party as it approaches the critical budget announcement.
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