United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sought to distance himself from an unofficial briefing to the media by unnamed “allies” that he intends to fight off a leadership contest which, they say, could come just 18 months into his premiership.On Tuesday evening, unnamed sources were cited in The Guardian newspaper saying Health Secretary Wes Streeting has gathered significant backing to supplant Starmer.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listBut on Wednesday morning, Streeting denied this, telling journalists that he was “not challenging the prime minister”.“I’m not doing any of the things some silly briefer said overnight,” he stated.Asked if those responsible for the briefing should be sacked, Streeting said, “Yes. But he’s [Starmer] got to find them first, and I wouldn’t expect him to waste loads of time on this.”“There are people around the prime minister who do not follow his model and style of leadership,” he said.In response to the ensuing media storm, Starmer, whose premiership since last year has been marred by poor polling, told reporters in north Wales on Thursday that briefings against ministers are “completely unacceptable”.“I have been talking to my team today. I have been assured that no briefing against ministers was done from Number 10, but I have made it clear that I fin …
