Wes Streeting has admitted he has always feared his ‘sense of humour’ will come back to bite him – after he was played a resurfaced clip of him saying he would one day be PM
Wes Streeting has admitted he has always feared his “sense of humour” would come back for him – after he was played a resurfaced clip of him saying he would one day be PM on live radio.
The Health Secretary, who was forced to deny planning a coup against Keir Starmer on Wednesday, jokingly predicted he would be Prime Minister in the future in a video filmed in 2018. The clip re-emerged with apt timing this week amid an explosion of speculation about a leadership challenge against Mr Starmer.
LBC host Nick Ferrari decided to have some fun with the clip this morning – and played it to Mr Streeting live on air. The Cabinet minister laughed as it was played to him and accused the radio presenter of a “drive-by”.
READ MORE: Wes Streeting’s eye-popping prediction for who could be PM in resurfaced clip
Mr Streeting said: “As it’s often been said, it will be my sense of humour that will ultimately do for me one day, but if you don’t back yourself, who you will? That’s my advice to say to the kids in my constituent.
“But no, I mean, there are times where you say things in jest, and then you’re sat on a radio programme taking calls, thinking you can discuss the serious issues of the day and Ferrari comes along with a drive-by. Thank you very much.”
In the clip, Mr Streeting was one of several MPs asked who they thought would be PM in ten years’ time for comedian Matt Forde’s Unspun series.
Paul Sweeney, Preet Kaur Gill, Rupa Huq and John Woodcock all predicted then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, while Tory Tim Loughton suggested Kemi Badenoch. Asked for his answer on the comedy show, Mr Streeting joked “I think probably me”.
The Government plunged into civil war on Tuesday night as Mr Streeting was forced to deny plotting a coup against Mr Starmer. Speculation about the Prime Minister’s future erupted after Downing Street mounted an extraordinary bid to shore up his leadership amid fears his position could be under threat.
Also in his LBC interview, Mr Streeting said he and Mr Starmer were both “extremely frustrated” about the leadership row which has hit the top of the Government. The PM has faced calls to sack his top adviser, Morgan McSweeney, over anonymous briefings claiming Mr Streeting was plotting a bid for the Labour leadership.
Mr Streeting insisted he had confidence in Mr McSweeney and they had “always got on”. Asked about his chat with Mr Starmer on Wednesday night, Mr Streeting said the Prime Minister’s tone was “as nice as usual”. He added: “I think the Prime Minister and I are both in the same boat here of being extremely frustrated because this is a total distraction.”
Mr Streeting on Wednesday said briefing about a Labour leadership challenge is “self-defeating” and “doesn’t help anyone”, as he denied plotting to oust the Prime Minister.
He compared the civil war to an episode of Celebrity Traitors, saying this is “the worst attack on a faithful” since rugby star Joe Marler was banished in last week’s BBC final. He backed the PM and said he was completely behind him.
Keir Starmer yesterday insisted no one in Downing Street has briefed against Mr Streeting. I’ve been assured that no briefing against ministers was done from No10, but I’ve made it clear that I find it absolutely unacceptable,” he said. “I’ve been equally clear that whether it’s this case or any other, I intend to deal with it.”