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"It's not been our best period since taking office," one top source close to power acknowledged after mudslinging one way and another, some in public, much more in private.

It began with undisclosed contacts to the media, this reporter included, that Sir Keir would fight any move to replace him - and that cabinet ministers, particularly the Health Secretary, were planning challenges.

Streeting insisted his loyalty remained toward Starmer while demanding those behind the leaks to face dismissal, and the PM stated that all criticism on his ministers were "unacceptable".

Inquiries about whether Starmer had authorised the original briefings to identify possible rivals - while questioning those behind them were doing so knowingly, or approval, were introduced amid the controversy.

Was there going to be an investigation into leaks? Could there be dismissals at what Streeting called a "poisonous" Prime Minister's office setup?

What were those close to the PM aiming to accomplish?

This reporter has been making loads of phone calls to piece together what actually happened and where all this leaves Keir Starmer's government.

Stand two key facts central of all of this: the government faces low approval along with Starmer.

These circumstances serve as the rocket fuel underlying the ongoing conversations being heard about what the government is planning to address it and what it might mean for how long Starmer continues in Downing Street.

But let's get to the fallout following the internal conflict.

Damage Control

Starmer and Health Secretary Wes Streeting had a telephone conversation on Wednesday evening to mend relations.

I hear Starmer expressed regret to Streeting during their short conversation and both consented to talk more thoroughly "shortly".

They didn't talk about McSweeney, the PM's senior advisor - who has emerged as a central figure for blame from various sources including the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch openly to government officials both junior and senior confidentially.

Widely credited as the strategist of the election victory and the political brain responsible for Starmer's rapid ascent following his transition from his legal career, he also finds himself among those facing criticism if the Downing Street machine is perceived to have stuttered, stumbled or outright failed.

He is not responding to questions, as some call for his removal.

Detractors argue that in a Downing Street where McSweeney is called on to make plenty of important strategic calls, he must accept accountability for the current situation.

Alternative voices from maintain no-one who works there initiated any information against a cabinet minister, post the Health Secretary's comments those accountable should be sacked.

Political Fallout

At the Prime Minister's office, there is a tacit acknowledgement that the Health Minister handled multiple scheduled media appearances on Wednesday morning with grace, confidence and wit - although encountering continuous inquiries regarding his aspirations because the reports concerning him came just hours before.

According to certain parliamentarians, he demonstrated a nimbleness and knack for communication they hope Starmer demonstrated.

Furthermore, it was evident that certain of the reports that aimed to support Starmer ended up creating a platform for Streeting to declare he supported the view of his colleagues who have described the PM's office as problematic and biased and that the sources of the briefings ought to be dismissed.

Quite a situation.

"I remain loyal" - Streeting rejects suggestions to oppose the PM for leadership.

Official Position

Starmer, it's reported, is "incandescent" about the way these events has developed while investigating how it all happened.

What appears to have malfunctioned, from No 10's perspective, involves both volume and emphasis.

Initially, they had, perhaps naively, thought that the leaks would produce media attention, rather than continuous headline news.

The reality proved considerably bigger than they had anticipated.

It could be argued a PM allowing such matters become public, through allies, relatively soon post-election, was always going to be leading major news – precisely as occurred, across media outlets.

Furthermore, regarding tone, officials claim they hadn't expected so much talk concerning Streeting, later massively magnified by all those interviews he had scheduled recently.

Alternative perspectives, admittedly, determined that that was precisely the purpose.

Wider Consequences

This represents another few days during which government officials talk about lessons being learnt and among MPs plenty are irritated at what they see as a ridiculous situation playing out that they have to firstly witness then justify.

While preferring not to these actions.

However, an administration and its leader with anxiety regarding their situation surpasses {than their big majority|their parliamentary advantage|their