A flurry of late-night media briefings have triggered a full blown crisis for Keir Starmer. Allies of the Prime Minister sought to fire a pre-emptive strike in the Times and to the BBC, suggesting that he would fight any challenge to his leadership after the Budget. The Guardian subsequently reported that Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has 50 frontbenchers willing to resign if the Budget goes badly and Starmer does not go. Various ministers, officials and allies are quoted – suggesting a degree of co-ordination, rather than just one rogue operator sounding off.

Streeting, who was down last night to do this morning’s media round, was furious at both the substance and timing of these stories. He has told the BBC today that it’s ‘categorically untrue’ that he’s plotting a coup agai

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