“Wes Streeting has said he does not want Keir Starmer to be challenged as Labour leader after the May elections as it would undermine the party’s election promise to voters to avoid more chaos.”

“The health secretary, who is widely regarded as a prospective candidate in any contest, urged voters to 'give the guy a chance' as he said that none of his colleagues would attempt to oust the prime minister.”

“But while he played down the prospect of a leadership race being triggered, he did not rule out throwing his hat in the ring should one take place in the wake of catastrophic results.”

“Streeting has kept a relatively low profile since the tumultuous day last month when the party’s Scottish leader called for Starmer to go.”

“The health secretary had insisted he backed the prime minister and was not intending to move against him, but allies then suggested his ambitions had not been thwarted.”

“However, with the outbreak of the Iran conflict, supporters of Streeting and of Angela Rayner, also likely to be a contender, said they recognised that Labour MPs would be less willing to change leader during such a precarious international situation – and that the public would take a dim view of such a move.”

“Speaking to the Guardian’s Politics Weekly podcast, Streeting said: 'I don’t want to see Keir challenged in May. I don’t think that that will happen.'”

“Pressed on whether he would run if somebody else triggered the contest, he added: 'I don’t even think that’s going to be a scenario. And honestly, I’d had the other month just about my fill of tedious, who’s up, who’s down, that kind of 'politics is a parlour game' crap. I’ve got a job to do. I’ve got a big job to do. This is the only job I want to do.'”

“Streeting – who has faced the anger of some Labour MPs who believe leadership speculation around Starmer has been destabilising – said that the public could react negatively to any challenge.”

“Asked whether the Middle East conflict, and the perception that Starmer has handled it well, put him in a safer position among his own MPs, he said: 'There is no doubt whatsoever that people have seen in Keir’s leadership through the Iran crisis his finest qualities.'”

“He denied the messages had been damaging for him as he was as 'disgusted as everyone else' by Mandelson’s continuing relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.”

“He expressed concern that despite the recent improvement in patient satisfaction, young people appeared to be losing faith in the idea of an NHS paid for by taxes.”

“He defended the £330m NHS data contract signed by his Conservative predecessor Victoria Atkins with the US tech firm Palantir, whose co-founder Peter Thiel is a major donor to and supporter of the US president, Donald Trump.”