The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, , has affirmed that the Government he leads is “united”, in the face of rumors about challenges to his leadership in the Labor Party that his allies deny.
“This is a united team and we are working together to achieve this,” said Starmer in the House of Commons (lower), in the weekly session of questions to the British president, after the leader of the opposition, the Conservative, told him that there is a “toxic culture” at number 10 Downing Street, the prime minister’s headquarters.
What is this clash about? That the British newspaper reported that the prime minister’s official residence is in “full bunker mode” to deal with any intention to replace him, given the existing fear that his colleagues will try to challenge his leadership in the coming weeks.
Given the speculation aired by various media that it is the current head of Health, Wes Streeting, who is supposedly leading this internal response to Starmer, the president considers that this is an attack by the press against his minister and affirms that “any attack against a member of the Cabinet is completely unacceptable.”
Starmer showed his support for Streeting, who has denied in several interviews that he is challenging the prime minister for leadership. In fact, Starmer highlighted that waiting lists have been reduced and that the head of Health “is doing a good job.”
Streeting described suggestions that he would challenge Starmer as “counterproductive nonsense” and said he did not see any attempt to unseat the Prime Minister at this time. However, the newspaper points out the minister’s “ambition”, which is viewed in Downing Street with “particular suspicion”.
UK Secretary of State for Health Wes Streeting leaves 10 Downing Street after attending the weekly Cabinet meeting in London on November 4, 2025.
Starmer, in parliament, was forced to address reports that his allies were leaking negative information about senior officials in his government, just to affect potential opponents. Starmer stated that he had not authorized these leaks. “I appointed them to their positions because they are the most qualified people to perform them,” he said. “Any attack against any member of my cabinet is completely unacceptable,” he said with apparent indignation. “People are perplexed,” he said on condition of anonymity. “No one understands where this information comes from,” which has reached a progressive media with good sources in the party of the premier.
Rumors of a challenge to his leadership last emerged in September, when Andy Burnham, who is a former MP and current mayor of Greater Manchester, launched an attempt to challenge Starmer’s approach on the eve of the Labor Party’s annual conference. However, overthrowing a leader is difficult, as any candidate would need the support of 20% of the party’s parliamentary members, meaning 80 lawmakers would have to agree on an alternative candidate. It hasn’t come to that until now.
Not even the absolute
Starmer’s leadership has been in a delicate situation since July 2024, given the latest voting intention polls, which place the right-wing populist party Reform UK ahead of Labour, while he states that 73% of those consulted – 1,752 adults – consider that the Labor leader is not a good prime minister.
The position of British Prime Minister has been very unstable in recent times and since the conservative David Cameron (2010-2016) no one has lasted in office for more than three years. As for Starmer, he has only been in office for a year and a half and his popularity continues to plummet.
This latest crisis to hit the Government comes before the budget announcement on November 26, the date on which the Labor Party, in order to alleviate the fiscal deficit, is expected to fail to fulfill a key electoral promise: to increase the percentage of income tax for the first time in half a century.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has indicated that both tax rises and spending cuts will be possible when she presents her plans for next year, with the aim of reducing public debt. This will probably provoke new attacks from Nigel Farage, whose anti-immigrant Reform UK party has been leading national polls over the Labor Party for months.
