Reynolds is caught red handed, Kendall pleads for party loyalty and Wes wins with a complete reorganisation of NHS England!
Read all about it in this week's Who's Top Who's Not
Rising high - Wes Streeting
In a plot twist that no one saw coming (except Wes Streeting’s diary planner), it has been announced that NHS England is to be abolished and brought back into the Department of Health and Social Care, conveniently handing the Streeting even more control of the health service. The pitch had been rolled for several weeks but few saw such a dramatic culling coming.
While the government insists this move is about efficiency and ‘streamlining’ healthcare management, WTWN suspects it is also a sneaky way to consolidate Streeting’s remit as he now finds himself with fewer independent bodies standing between him and his planned NHS overhaul.
This news also comes hot on the heels of a week filled with news about slashing government jobs and provides an insight into how Labour hopes to reshape the state. There is also plenty of politics as Labour appeals to fiscally conservative voters by countering claims of wastefulness and supporting further innovation, leaving the Tories with nothing but regret that they didn't do this when they were in government.
However, a leaner health system will mean fewer people to implement policies and provide a critical eye, perhaps weakening the government in the long run. Whether this turns out to be a stroke of genius, or just another headache for already overstretched doctors remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure; Streeting is having a good week.
Middle ranking - Liz Kendall
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall takes the middle spot this week following the signalling of significant cuts to come to the welfare budget. Due to be announced soon, these cuts could be between £5-6bn, almost double what was signalled by the Chancellor in the autumn.
This move may prove strategically smart in the long term as Labour hopes to neutralise one of Reform’s key attack lines – that the party is too soft on benefits and too willing to let the welfare bill spiral. However, the announcement has left dozens of Labour MPs up in arms and could lead Starmer to face the biggest rebellion of his premiership so far.
In a bid to soften the blow, Downing Street has decided to divide and conquer, inviting Labour backbenchers to attend private ‘welfare roundtables’ to dissuade the rebels. WTWN thinks that making support of the cuts a test of party loyalty is a risky move that could backfire if there is a sizable rebellion.
But there is a flip-side. It might actually help the government to pick a fight with parts of its own parliamentary party in order to show the voters that Starmer will put what's right for the country ahead of the concerns of Labour backbenchers. Still, it's a brave PM who forgoes effective party management altogether.
Sinking quickly - Jonathan Reynolds
Business Secretary Jonathan Renyolds has been caught red-handed embellishing his legal credentials, having claimed to be a qualified solicitor when he never completed his training. Reynolds’ misrepresentation was not limited to casual conversations; it appeared on his LinkedIn profile, election materials and even during a Parliamentary debate. This week he was forced him to formally apologise and correct the record in the chamber.
To make matters worse, Reynolds is also taking heat for his lacklustre response to Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs. While British metal makers hoped for a strong pushback or a UK exemption, Reynolds stumbled and left industry leaders frustrated. Looks like both economic and CV inflation are on the rise again.