Conservative leader takes aim at Health Secretary over his reported leadership ambitions
Wes Streeting was mocked by Kemi Badenoch in the House of Commons (Image: BBC)
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has taken aim at Wes Streeting over his reported leadership ambitions. The Tory leader asked him “why don’t you just do your job?” while speaking in the Commons following the King’s Speech.
During the debate, Mrs Badenoch said: “All we have is a load of reannounced policies. Hounding our brave veterans through the courts, legislating for digital ID – a policy they told us they dropped – banning trail hunting, just more class war that makes no one’s life better, scrapping NHS England, something the Prime Minister announced 14 months ago.
“But then I suppose the Health Secretary has been a bit distracted lately, hasn’t he? He’s chuntering now – why don’t you just do your job? Do your job.
“There’s no point in giving me dirty looks. We all know what he’s been up to.”
Mr Streeting confronted his boss over the crisis engulfing Labour as the pair met for crunch talks – which lasted less than 20 minutes – in Downing Street ahead of the King’s Speech on Wednesday.
The Cabinet minister is believed to have told allies he is preparing to quit Government on Thursday and run for the top job.
Asked whether the Prime Minister still has confidence in the Health Secretary, his spokesman told reporters: “Yes,” confirming he was still in post.
The official declined to “get into the content of internal meetings” when asked for details of what was discussed, adding: “But the Prime Minister has full confidence in the Health Secretary.”
The spokesman evaded a question on whether Mr Streeting would remain Health Secretary for the rest of the week, reiterating instead that Sir Keir has “full confidence” in him.
Sir Keir has managed to cling on to power and see off an immediate threat to his leadership in the last few days, despite the resignation of four ministers, some of whom are close to Mr Streeting, and at least 85 MPs demanding he stands down.
Sir Keir joked about the ongoing turmoil surrounding his leadership as he spoke in the Commons.
The Prime Minister said: “The gracious speech was brilliantly proposed by my honourable friend, the member for Bradford West [Naz Shah].
“Members across the House will have read her remarkable new book. Her list of endorsements is truly impressive, reaching well over 100 members – at last, a list that we could all get behind.”
Mr Streeting could be seen laughing along to jokes made by the Prime Minister, despite the reports that he is launching a leadership bid.