Wes Streeting has hired Barack Obama’s former speechwriter as speculation mounts about the battle to succeed Sir Keir Starmer.
Michael Lea Rock, who was also chief speechwriter to both Gordon Brown and David Cameron in Downing Street, has been recruited to do a speech-writing job for the Health Secretary.
Sources close to Mr Streeting insisted last night that the appointment was a ‘civil service one’ by his Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) – not a personal political hiring made by Mr Streeting himself.
But the move comes after The Mail on Sunday reported this year on claims that the Health Secretary’s allies had already established a loyal ‘network’ across No10, government departments and in Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee.
The network was said to include senior Downing Street advisors who were ready to ‘switch allegiance’ if Sir Keir Starmer were to leave before the next election.
‘All his people are running the party. It would be a smooth transition,’ a source said.
There is mounting speculation inside the party that a future Labour leadership contest will come to a showdown between Mr Streeting and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
However, Labour’s current leadership elections – where rank-and-file party members and affiliated supporters have the final say in a ‘one person, one vote’ system – are thought to favour Ms Rayner over any bid by Mr Streeting.
And one Labour insider said last night: ‘Wes will need all the help he can get because under the current party rules, Angela will be odds-on favourite.
‘She’s much more attractive to the left-wing sentiments of party members.
‘Wes is way too Blairite for many of them.’
A DHSC spokesperson said last night: ‘The Department does not comment on individual personnel matters.
‘Any appointments are made in line with the Civil Service rules on recruitment.’
