Cooper and Reynolds demand end to anonymous briefings as Labour faces leadership contest
Ministers urge colleagues to treat each other with respect and focus on constituent duties amid reports of damaging leaks targeting Chancellor Wes Streeting and other senior figures.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds have formally urged Labour MPs to cease anonymous briefings and treat colleagues with respect during the weekly parliamentary Labour party meeting on Monday evening. The ministers warned that internal factional disputes are disrespectful to voters, particularly following Labour’s poor performance in recent local elections in Scotland, Wales, and English councils.
The call for unity comes amid a series of anonymous briefings attributed to allies of Prime Minister Keir Starmer or supporters of potential leadership challengers, including Chancellor Wes Streeting and former shadow chancellor Andy Burnham. Specific examples of recent anonymous briefings include claims that Streeting had “bottled” a leadership bid, descriptions of 2024-intake MPs as “erratic” and inexperienced, and references to Streeting as a “recently crashed-out backbencher”.
Cooper began her address by noting she had spent the weekend meeting former Labour councillors in her West Yorkshire constituency who had lost their seats on 7 May. She apologised for the impact of national issues on local campaigns and cited nearly 30 years in parliament to argue that the manner of internal debate matters. She expressed concern over reports that comments between Labour members are “unprintable”, stating that regardless of political views, colleagues must treat each other with respect.
Reynolds emphasised the government’s duty to constituents and to each other, stating, “we are the government.” He highlighted recent comments and exchanges between colleagues as evidence of the need for renewed support and responsibility within the party. Reynolds reminded MPs that their first responsibility is to do the work and understand why they do everything they do, urging them not to forget who they are there to serve.
The ministers’ intervention coincides with Labour preparing for a probable leadership contest following significant electoral setbacks. The anonymous briefings have been attributed to various sources, including MPs, officials, advisers, and others, indicating a broader issue within the party’s communication channels. Both ministers stressed that the party must focus on its duty to constituents and avoid damaging internal leaks as it navigates the aftermath of the election results.