"In his chronicle of his time at the centre of power, Damian McBride wrote that the New Labour darling David Miliband had a tendency to treat rebellion like a reluctant bather inching his way into the sea at Skegness. It made sense to push him right in at the outset, on the grounds that he'd run straight back to his towel, and not try again for at least six months."
"Some insiders believe this was the strategy behind an extraordinary decision by Keir Starmer's closest allies to accuse Wes Streeting of leading an advanced plot to replace him as prime minister. The flaw in that plan obvious to all who have had even fleeting contact with Streeting is that far from reluctantly dipping his toe in, the health secretary embraces any chance to position himself for the leadership with the confidence and fervour of an Olympic diver."
Keir Starmer's closest allies accused Wes Streeting of leading an advanced plot to replace him as prime minister. Some insiders believe the briefings aimed to flush out a challenger by forcing an immediate confrontation. The tactic mirrored Damian McBride's account of pushing hesitant contenders into the water so they retreat for months. The flaw was that Streeting eagerly positions himself for leadership and responds proactively to opportunities. The episode exposed tensions between Starmer, his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, and Streeting. Many in Westminster view Starmer and McSweeney as politically intertwined, with decisions often protecting McSweeney at others' expense.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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