Keir Starmer's government has descended into open warfare, in a further sign of his waning authority over his MPs.
The Education Secretary launched an attack on fellow cabinet minister Wes Streeting this morning, accusing him of "rewriting history" over a key government policy.
Bridget Phillipson slapped down the Health Secretary's claim that he had been a main driver of efforts to abolish the two-child benefit cap last year.
In a December interview, Mr Streeting claimed: "It’s no coincidence that in the Cabinet, among the people pushing hard to abolish the two-child limit, were me and Bridget, because we have both lived through child poverty.”
However Ms Phillipson has since rejected claims he was prominently involved, instead highlighting other ministers' efforts.
Speaking to the New Statesman, she hit back: "I think people ultimately know how this has come about, and shouldn’t try to rewrite history.
“I have been there right from the beginning, co-chairing the task force, initially with Liz [Kendall], who’s been fantastic… and then more recently with Pat [McFadden].”
Mr Streeting has been frequently accused of plotting a leadership coup against Sir Keir Starmer, and highlighting his role in pushing for popular left-wing policies among Labour MPs would help him attract support from the left of the party, seen as his biggest hurdle to securing the top job.
Last week Labour MPs claimed Mr Streeting would move against "zombie" Keir Starmer within weeks, despite the health secretary publicly declaring he supports the Prime Minister.
One friend of Mr Streeting said he is willing to stand against the PM after the Gorton and Denton by-election later this month, warning “we need to act quickly”.
“There is a big risk that we meander and end up in this tepid decline where we all make ourselves feel better but a Reform government becomes inevitable.
“Wes has the numbers, but it will require a steeliness and a determination that most colleagues have not to date shown.”
The Health Secretary said the claims were “categorically not true”.
