Streeting wrote off his re-election chances in WhatsApp exchanges with Mandelson

"Wes Streeting predicted he would be toast at the next general election, according to private WhatsApp messages with Peter Mandelson published by the health secretary in an effort to draw a line under his relationship with the disgraced peer. The exchanges, in which Streeting said the government had no growth strategy and questioned No 10's communications operation, appeared to be part of a plan to ready himself for a potential leadership contest."

"The prime minister's grip on power was pushed to the brink on Monday after Anas Sarwar, the Labour leader in Scotland, called for him to stand down before the May Scottish parliamentary elections following too many mistakes by the UK government. Streeting, regarded as a leadership contender in the event that Starmer goes, had a close friendship with Mandelson that, after the scandal that blew up last week, threatened to be a significant liability to his ambitions."

"But allies of the health secretary said the WhatsApp messages, published between August 2024 and October last year, showed that he had nothing to hide about their relationship. The scandal has already led to the departure of Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's chief of staff, who advised him that Mandelson's appointment should go ahead. Streeting gave the embattled prime minister his backing on Monday, joining the rest of the cabinet in giving their support in an attempt to dampen speculation over his vulnerable position."

Wes Streeting exchanged private WhatsApp messages with Peter Mandelson between August and October 2024 that portrayed a close personal relationship and political coordination. In those messages Streeting predicted he would be 'toast' at the next general election, criticized the government's lack of a growth strategy and questioned No 10's communications operation while preparing for a potential leadership contest. The disclosures intensified scrutiny after a scandal involving Mandelson prompted calls for the prime minister to stand down and led to the departure of Morgan McSweeney. Streeting publicly backed the prime minister but acknowledged the government had a poor week and urged a clear plan to regain public support.

Read at www.theguardian.com