Wes Streeting’s allies have ‘infiltrated’ No10 and are now ‘running the party’ in anticipation of future leadership bid_Nhy
Allies of Wes Streeting have ‘infiltrated’ Government and are ready to back him in a future leadership contest, insiders have claimed.
The ambitious Health Secretary has a loyal ‘network’ already within Downing Street, across government departments and in Labour’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee.
They include senior No10 advisers who are ready to ‘switch allegiance’ if Sir Keir Starmer were to leave before the next election.
‘His people are running the party. It would be a smooth transition,’ a source said.
It comes amid a briefing war within Government, with Cabinet ministers privately expressing frustration at negative headlines which they claim are linked to Downing Street.
One source said the briefings were part of a power struggle between factions surrounding high profile ministers tipped to succeed Sir Keir including Mr Streeting, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.
A Labour source said last night there were also concerns that the ‘Boys Club’, which critics claim surrounds Sir Keir, were targeting senior female ministers ‘who they think got too close to Sue Gray’.
Wes Streeting already has a ‘loyal’ network within Downing Street and across government departments, insiders say
Sir Keir Starmer has been the subject of speculation that he will not last a full term, amid poor poll ratings after just six months in office
Sir Keir has been the subject of speculation that he will not last his full term, fuelled by poor poll ratings after just six months in office.
One Labour insider suggested last night that Mr Streeting’s hopes of succeeding Sir Keir would depend on changing the rules on how leaders are elected – by excluding party members from having a vote and leaving it just to MPs while in government.
The insider said: ‘That’s probably Wes’s best chance – reforming the leadership rules.’
A source close to Mr Streeting said he was focused ‘24/7’ on ‘delivering the fastest cut in waiting times in the history of the NHS’.
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Muslim MP opposing calls to scrap Christian prayers at the start of Commons sittings
Calls to scrap Christian prayers at the start of every House of Commons sitting are being opposed – by a new Muslim MP.
Independent MP Shockat Adam sprang to the defence of the daily worship after nine MPs – including three new Labour members said ‘religious worship should not play any part in the formal business of the Commons’.
In a tradition dating back to 1558, each daily session at the Commons begins with a few minutes of private Christian prayer and contemplation.
Last month, the Mail on Sunday revealed how some of the new generation of Labour MPs had told the Commons’ modernisation committee that the practice was out of date.
And last week, nine MPs – led by newly-elected Labour politician Neil Duncan-Jordan – publicly called for the prayers to cease.
In a Commons early day motion, they say that ‘Parliamentary meetings should be conducted in a manner that is equally welcoming to all attendees, irrespective of their personal beliefs’.
The MPs – including three Labour and three Liberal Democrats – say Parliamentary prayers ‘are not compatible with a society that respects the principles of freedom of and from religion’.
And they are asking the modernisation committee to consider ‘alternative arrangements’.
Independent MP Shockat Adam (pictured standing) has defended customary daily prayers at the start of Commons sittings
Starting the day with private prayers in the Commons is a tradition dating back to 1558, but nine MPs have called for the practice to cease
But last night, Leicester South MP Mr Adam – who was himself only elected last July – disagreed.
He told the Mail on Sunday: ‘Prayers in the House of Commons are part of our Christian heritage and Parliament’s traditions.
‘They’re not compulsory, so MPs have a choice whether to attend or not.
‘So I see no reason for them not to continue.’
He added: ‘MPs of other faiths don’t need collective prayers in the Chamber but should remain free to pray in their own private way on the Parliamentary estate.’
Last month, veteran Conservative MP Sir John Hayes hit out at the ‘arrogance’ of ‘new kids in town’ who wanted prayers scrapped, accusing them of a ‘lack of respect’ for Parliament’s Christian traditions.
Sir John, first elected in 1997, said: ‘Whether you believe in the divine or not, it’s important to recognise our country is rooted in the Christian traditions.
‘Prayers are a reminder of that.’
