John Healey says Labour infighting puts government’s credibility at risk

Defence secretary say party has turned in on itself in thinly veiled criticism of Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting

John Healey has criticised Labour figures jockeying to become prime minister in a politicised speech in which he said the party’s “very credibility“ in government was at stake if the infighting deepened.

The defence secretary, a Keir Starmer loyalist, said the party had turned in on itself since the May elections in what appeared to be direct criticism of Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting and even the junior defence minister Al Carns.