"On balance, Keir Starmer probably prefers it when they say next to nothing. On the grounds there is probably less that can go wrong. He likes it best when he is the one doing the talking as he is more in control of the message. The only trouble is, the public often prefer it when it's someone else doing the talking. Especially when that person is Wes Streeting."
"OK, so we all know that Streeting can be a bit annoying. No one is ever going to love Wes in quite the same way Wes loves Wes. The self-regard is total. And he has never made any secret that his ambition goes well beyond being health secretary. He wants the top job and will be among the first to put his name forward when Starmer decides or has it decided for him that enough is enough."
"Because on the media round the very next day, Wes did a star turn. Not only deflecting the whole thing as paranoia, but showing everyone why he would make a much better leader than Starmer. Confident, clear and assured. Here was a genuine prime minister in waiting. If people hadn't seen Wes as a successor to Starmer before this, they did now. This was Wes leading Wes's charmed life."
Keir Starmer generally prefers ministers to stay quiet so he can control the message. The public sometimes prefers visible, vocal ministers, especially Wes Streeting. Streeting is ambitious, self-assured and openly seeks higher office beyond the health secretary role. He sells the NHS and his commitment persuasively and appears to care about improving the health service. Streeting's media performances have showcased confidence, clarity and leadership potential, at times making him appear a natural successor to Starmer. Internal briefings against him have backfired when he turned media scrutiny into demonstrations of his suitability for greater responsibility.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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