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"This has scarcely been the government's best 24 hours since the election," one high-ranking official close to power acknowledged after internal criticism one way and another, openly visible, much more in private.

The situation started with anonymous briefings to the media, this reporter included, that the Prime Minister would oppose any effort to replace him - and that cabinet ministers, such as Wes Streeting, were planning leadership bids.

Wes Streeting insisted his loyalty remained to the PM and urged the individuals responsible for these reports to lose their positions, while the Prime Minister stated that all criticism against cabinet members were considered "inappropriate".

Questions about whether the PM had sanctioned the initial leaks to expose possible rivals - and whether those behind them were acting with his awareness, or consent, were added to the situation.

Would there be a probe regarding sources? Could there be dismissals in what the Health Secretary described as a "poisonous" Downing Street setup?

What were individuals near the PM hoping to achieve?

There have been numerous discussions to patch together what actually happened and how all this leaves the Labour government.

Exist important truths central of all of this: the administration has poor ratings and so is the PM.

These facts are the rocket fuel behind the persistent talks being heard concerning what Labour is trying to do to address it and possible consequences regarding the duration Starmer carries on in office.

Turning to the consequences of all that internal conflict.

Damage Control

The prime minister along with the Health Secretary had a telephone conversation recently to mend relations.

It's understood Sir Keir apologised to the Health Secretary in the brief call and both consented to talk in further detail "in the near future".

The conversation avoided Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's top aide - who has emerged as a lightning rod for criticism from everyone including the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch openly to Labour figures both junior and senior in private.

Widely credited as the architect of the political success and the tactical mind behind Sir Keir's quick rise since switching from his legal career, McSweeney also finds himself subject to scrutiny when the Prime Minister's office appears to have stuttered, stumbled or outright failed.

He is not responding to questions, amid calls for his removal.

Those critical of him argue that in government operations where he is expected to handle multiple big political judgements, he must accept accountability for these developments.

Others in the building assert nobody employed there was behind any information targeting a minister, post the Health Secretary's comments whoever was responsible ought to be dismissed.

Consequences

At the Prime Minister's office, there exists unspoken recognition that the health secretary managed a series of scheduled media appearances recently with grace, confidence and wit - although encountering continuous inquiries about his own ambitions since those briefings concerning him occurred shortly prior.

Among government members, he exhibited flexibility and media savvy they only wish Starmer possessed.

Furthermore, it was evident that at least some of the leaks that attempted to support Starmer led to a platform for the Health Secretary to say he agreed with among fellow MPs who have described Downing Street as problematic and biased and that those who were behind the briefings should be sacked.

Quite a situation.

"My commitment stands" - the Health Secretary denies plan to contest leadership as PM.

Internal Reactions

The prime minister, sources reveal, is "incandescent" regarding how these events has played out and examining the sequence of events.

What seems to have gone awry, from No 10's perspective, involves both quantity and tone.

First, they had, possibly unrealistically, believed that the leaks would create certain coverage, instead of wall-to-wall leading stories.

The reality proved to be much louder than expected.

I'd say any leader letting this kind of thing be revealed, by associates, under two years following a major victory, would inevitably become front page top of bulletins stuff – exactly as happened, in various publications.

And secondly, concerning focus, sources maintain they didn't anticipate considerable attention concerning Streeting, that was subsequently significantly increased through multiple media appearances planned in advance the other day.

Others, certainly, determined that that was precisely the goal.

Political Impact

This represents further period where Labour folk in government mention learning experiences and on the backbenches plenty are irritated at what they see as an absurd spectacle developing forcing them to initially observe and then attempt to defend.

Ideally avoiding these actions.

But a government and a prime minister whose nervousness concerning their position surpasses {than their big majority|their parliamentary advantage|their