Starmer says team united, after political coup reports

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the U.K. House of Commons that his team was “united” after reports emerged on Tuesday (November 10) night that a political coup to overthrow him was underway.

The Guardian was the first to report on briefings from senior Downing Street sources that the U.K. Health Secretary Wes Streeting was heading a leadership challenge. Mr Starmer’s allies were quoted as saying that the Prime Minister would fend off any challenge, whether it occurred after the November 26 Budget or following a defeat in the May 2026 local elections.

Referring to the allegation against Mr. Streeting, Mr. Starmer said that he had never authorised attacks on Cabinet Members and that any attack on them was “completely unacceptable”. He went on to praise Mr. Streeting’s record of opening up National Health Service (NHS) appointments since he assumed office last year.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said the government had descended into “civil war” during PMQs.

The current government has been under pressure after signalling that it could break a manifesto promise and raise certain taxes in the upcoming Budget. It also faces a serious challenge from the nativist Reform UK Party, in next year’s local elections.

Mr. Steering did the rounds of TV stations on Wednesday (November 12) defending the Prime Minister and denying the allegations about him.

“This sort of stuff is also not just irresponsible and unwarranted and categorically untrue,” he told ITV.

“What really made me angry this morning is some of the stuff that’s come from Downing Street saying the Prime Minister’s fighting to save his own job. No, he’s not. He’s fighting to turn the country around,” he added.