Streeting challenged on 'intimate friendship' with Mandelson

As dark clouds gathered around the PM last week, Mr Streeting's name was once again thrown into the mix to replace him, leading to a vicious briefing war with other rivals, who made much of his friendship with the now-disgraced peer. In a bid to distance himself, the Health Secretary handed to Sky News messages that showed him making scathing remarks about the Prime Minister and Labour's direction. He complained the Government had 'no growth strategy at all' and agreed with Lord Mandelson's comment that 'the government problems do not stem from comms', suggesting the issue was the Sir Keir himself.