Streeting says Gaza concerns in government felt like hitting brick wall
Wes Streeting said he felt he was “hitting up against a brick wall” when trying to raise concerns about Gaza in government, after private WhatsApp messages from Peter Mandelson were disclosed. The messages, released as part of documents related to Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US, showed Mandelson criticizing Streeting to Cabinet minister Pat McFadden. Mandelson described a message from Streeting as “a wild long hysterical message from Wes about Israel” and later called his intervention “pathetic,” suggesting Streeting was experiencing an early mid-life crisis. In a statement to the Guardian, Streeting said he was “horrified by the war in Gaza” and did everything he could behind the scenes to urge government action, including sharing a 22-page dossier of doctors’ eyewitness accounts. The dossier contained graphic images of children with acute malnutrition and amputated limbs, and doctors described operating on children without pain relief. Other messages showed Mandelson describing Keir Starmer’s Downing Street as “beleaguered and bereft” and Starmer as lacking verve, while McFadden said Labour MPs were asking the wrong questions about taxing to pay benefits. Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said the messages were “embarrassing” but released due to a February parliamentary motion.
What’s reported
Wes Streeting said he felt like “hitting up against a brick wall” when raising Gaza concerns in government.
Disclosed WhatsApp messages showed Peter Mandelson criticizing Streeting to Pat McFadden, calling his message “a wild long hysterical message from Wes about Israel” and his intervention “pathetic.”
Streeting stated he was “horrified by the war in Gaza” and did everything behind the scenes to get government action, including sharing a 22-page dossier of doctors’ testimonies.
The dossier included graphic images of children with acute malnutrition and amputated limbs, and doctors described operating on children without analgesics.
Other messages showed Mandelson describing Keir Starmer’s Downing Street as “beleaguered and bereft” and Starmer as “lacks verve.”
Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said the messages were “embarrassing” but released due to a humble address motion passed by MPs in February.
Key figures
Wes Streeting (health secretary at the time of lobbying)
Peter Mandelson (former minister, ambassador appointee)
Pat McFadden (cabinet minister)
Nick Thomas-Symonds (Cabinet Office minister)
Keir Starmer (prime minister)
Alan Milburn (former health secretary, mentioned in relation to a report on youth unemployment)
Sources: The Guardian
