Tensions are reaching a boiling point within the government.
One minister, fed up with the constant blame from Downing Street, made it clear: “To be honest, we’re all sick of Downing Street.
No 10 keeps trying to blame everyone else for the government’s problems.
It’s time they started looking at themselves.”
In recent months, there’s been a growing sense of frustration from the Cabinet towards Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, which many describe as chaotic and directionless.
But recent events have pushed things to the edge.
Leaks and Backstabbing
A major trigger for this growing discontent has been a series of negative briefings targeting senior Cabinet members.
These briefings, which were reportedly sanctioned at a high level in Downing Street, have only fueled the anger.
One minister summed it up bluntly: “No 10 is rubbish at it.
I know exactly who’s been leaking against me.” These poorly handled leaks have turned a simmering tension into an all-out feud.
In response, some ministers have begun actively withholding information from Starmer’s aides.
“We’ve decided to cut them out. We can’t trust them,” one minister shared.
“If we bring them in too early, they’ll sabotage what we’re doing.”
The level of distrust has reached a point where some ministers are considering completely bypassing Downing Street’s operation.
Downing Street’s Dysfunction
Another key issue is the apparent dysfunction in how No 10 operates.
“It’s really hard to get a decision out of there,” one frustrated minister explained.
Others have faced embarrassing moments, such as when No 10 staffers complained about being left out of policy announcements that had already been signed off weeks earlier.
Then there’s the handling of the government’s economic messaging, which many believe is in disarray.
Ministers are concerned that instead of a clear strategy to protect public services and promote investment, No 10 seems more focused on an unrealistic, growth-obsessed narrative.
One minister pointed out, “They understand they talked down the economy too much, but now they’re trying to talk it back into growth. That wasn’t the plan.”
Worries Over Economic Forecasts
The situation has gotten even more tense with the upcoming release of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) latest growth forecast.
Government insiders have admitted to feeling “terror” over the predicted bad news.
To counter the anticipated negative figures, No 10 has reportedly pressured ministers to come up with stories and policy ideas to distract from the OBR’s grim projections.
“We’ve been told to come up with things for March,” one official shared.
“They want to bury the OBR numbers—they’re that bad.”
A Brutal Spending Review
But the real breaking point for many ministers has been the ongoing negotiations over the Government Spending Review.
With Rachel Reeves’s fiscal headroom narrowing, ministers are being asked to approve severe spending cuts. Some are refusing outright.
“The cuts they want are impossible,” one minister said. “The deficit I inherited was already huge.
I can’t make these cuts without the system collapsing.”
Even those tasked with implementing the cuts are under fire.
Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has been criticized for his lack of understanding of the numbers.
“He’s a disaster,” one minister said. “He can’t even grasp basic figures.”
A Risky Political Gamble
While many ministers are concerned about the impact these cuts will have on public services, they’re equally worried about the political fallout.
“We’re about to commit electoral suicide,” one minister warned.
“The reaction to the winter fuel cut was terrible, and this is going to cause even more chaos.”
Another minister feared a bloodbath in local elections, adding, “Farage is going to run riot.”
Normally, internal government disputes are part of the process, but the scale of the anger, especially given how little time Starmer’s team has been in power, is unprecedented.
Personnel Changes Fail to Bring Stability
When Sue Gray left her role as chief of staff and was replaced by Morgan McSweeney, many hoped this would bring stability to Downing Street. But it hasn’t worked out that way.
“Everyone who thought Sue was the problem has been in for a nasty surprise,” one minister said, highlighting how the real issue lies in the broader economic strategy.
The Shift to Growth
A significant concern within the government is the shift in Labour’s economic strategy.
Ministers had initially hoped their position—focused on protecting public services and addressing the financial mess left by the Tories—would be strong.
But now, with a heavy emphasis on growth, they feel the ground has shifted beneath them.
As the OBR’s negative forecast looms, it looks like the strategy has failed to gain traction.
Some in the Tory camp believe the government is managing expectations, hoping that the OBR’s figures won’t be as bad as predicted.
But for Starmer and his team, the stakes are high.
If the economy flatlines or dips into recession, the blame is sure to fall on Downing Street.
The Cabinet’s Breaking Point
After months of simmering frustrations, Cabinet ministers have had enough.
The growing tension within the government suggests that Starmer’s leadership is on the verge of collapse, as ministers prepare for a showdown.
It’s clear: the government is about to go to war with itself.