As part of his speech to an NHS conference, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has delivered a blistering attack against the British Medical Association.

This is the union that represents - among others - resident doctors, who were previously known as junior doctors.

Despite getting a close to 30% pay rise last year from Streeting, the group is set to go on strike later this week.

The health secretary makes his point by telling the BMA to think about a few things.

This includes the fact he is responsible for 1.5 million people in the NHS, many of whom did not get a pay rise close to what resident doctors got, and many "many of whom are at the height of their career earnings, will never earn as much as the lowest paid doctor".

The second is the "untold misery and disruption" action will cause to patients.

Thirdly, is the pressure it will put on other staff - especially during winter.

Fourthly, whether "at this time, with green shoots of recovery, they want to set the system back" - as Streeting claims the alternative to him is Nigel Farage and Reform.

And he goes even further to attack another sector of the BMA - those that represent consultants, some of the most senior doctors.

Streeting says that when the government looks to raise taxes on the wealthy - to pay for things like NHS salaries - some of the "most effective lobbyists" against paying higher rates are the BMA consultants committee and the BMA pensions committee.

"We have to be honest and realistic about the challenges in the system, the challenges in the public finances, and the challenges facing every family in the land," Streeting says.

"And it's time for the BMA to get real.

"But one way or another, we're not going to be held to ransom, we are going to plough on regardless, and I think it's become increasingly clear that the BMA is no longer a professional voice for doctors.

"They are increasingly behaving in cartel-like behaviour, and they threaten not just the recovery of the NHS under this government.

"They threaten the future of the NHS, full stop. 

"And I think that is a morally reprehensible position to be in."

Health Secretary Wes Streeting is speaking at an NHS conference in Manchester at the moment.

While he mostly speaks about the health service, he does touch on the briefings about him and the prime minister.

Streeting says: "I mean, the bizarre thing about some juvenile briefing overnight is that it's people inNumber 10 who said, the prime minister is fighting for his job.

 Now, I don't think that's firstly, a helpful, constructive thing to say.

I also don't think it's true.

"What I think he's doing is fighting to try and turn the country around from the enormous mess that we've inherited on so many fronts."

He then repeats a joke he made this morning on Paste BN: "I think I said it was the most unwarranted attack on a faithful since Joe Marler was banished in the Traitors final. 

"And I think, whoever's been briefing this should spend a little less time watching celebrity traitors and a bit more time watching Countryfile."

He also appeared to give his support to Morgan McSweeney.

Streeting said: "I am not going to add to the toxic culture by, contribute to the toxic culture and going after individuals. 

"I don't think that is a constructive, or positive thing to do.

"And one thing I would say for Morgan McSweeney is there wouldn't be a Labour government without him."

The weekly briefing that political journalists have with the Downing Street team after PMQs usually majors on what Sir Keir Starmer or his opposite number have just said. 

Not this time.

The focus today was on the anonymous briefings splashed across the papers and news websites this morning, suggesting that the health secretary was about to launch a leadership challenge.

The prime minister's political spokesperson attempted something of a deflection job, pointing out that many of the quotes about Wes Streeting were attributed to sources outside Downing Street. 

That came after Sir Keir told MPs in the chamber that he had not authorised any of the briefings.

This is a "frustrating distraction" the Downing Street spokesperson said - and any attacks on cabinet ministers will be "dealt with". 

But asked if that would involve a leak inquiry and possible sackings, no substantial answers were forthcoming. 

But the Number 10 team did try to protect their own senior colleagues amid an apparent attempt by the Tories to pin the briefings on the prime minister's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.

"Yes" Sir Keir Starmer has confidence in his right-hand man, the spokesperson said.

"[The PM] very clearly set out his confidence in his entire top team including the cabinet", came the reply when it was pointed out that the prime minister didn't give a completely clear answer when asked in the chamber about his Chief of Staff.

So a definite attempt to dampen down the fevered events of the last 18 hours. 

But be in no doubt, this charade has once again taken a chunk out of the political credibility of the PM and the wider Downing Street operation. 

Seven days ago, we were talking about the government's poor handling of mistaken prison releases.

This time, those supportive of the prime minister seem to have managed to create a crisis off their own back.

There's been a lot of talk about former Tory adviser Sir Robbie Gibb and his role on the BBC board.

Sir Ed Davey, for example, has called for him to be sacked.

Speaking in the Commons just now, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy - under whom the BBC falls - says the government will look at Gibb's role as part of the review of the corporation's charter.

Responding to a question about the appointment of the football regulator and trust in public institutions, she said: "I imagine that [Jim Shannon was] alluding to an issue that was raised by many members of this House about the political appointments that were made to the board and the appointment of one board member in particular that have been highlighted by many members of being of concern. 

"He will know that they were appointments that were made under the last Conservative government.

"The last Conservative government also chose to extend the term of the board member in question, Just a few weeks before calling a general election, so he is now in post for several years."

"But there is an opportunity to look at this through the upcoming charter review, and I can assure him that we will."

We've just been hearing from the prime minister's political spokesperson in the wake of PMQs with Sir Keir's Starmer.

They are asked for clarity on if the prime minister has full confidence in his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney.

The reply is a fully throated backing.

Briefings from outside Number 10

However, the next response is interesting - in which the political spokesperson says the briefing against Wes Streeting came from outside Number 10.

The health secretary had blamed people in the building - but not the prime minister - for attacking him.

Asked about this, the spokesperson points out the attribution of the quotes that appeared overnight - which in Bloomberg and The Times were to "allies" or "supporters" of the prime ministers - rather than something like a Number 10 insider.

The spokesperson says that anyone briefing will be "dealt with" in the appropriate way.

Rupert Lowe, the former Reform UK MP who is known for his vociferous anti-migrant rhetoric, is one of those with a question at PMQs this week.

He asks Sir Keir Starmer: "Does the prime minister agree that for cases where the guilt is so undeniable, the crime so monstrous, the evil so irredeemable, the reintroduction of the death penalty for both foreign and domestic criminals should be put to the British people in a legally binding referendum?"

Unsurprisingly, the Labour leader - and former human rights lawyer - does not want a return of capital punishment.

Starmer says that it is right for people to be punished if they commit a crime, "reintroducing the death penalty is not the answer to this".

"It didn't work when it was in place, it led to the death of those that in fact turned out were innocent. 

"But what we must do is improve as we are the criminal justice response in this country."

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey uses his two questions to ask about the BBC - and heavily criticised Donald Trump for threatening to sue the corporation.

Starmer says he believes in a "strong and independent BBC - some would rather the BBC didn't exist".

He adds: "In an age of disinformation, the argument for impartial British news service is stronger than ever. 

"And where mistakes are made, they do need to get their house in order. 

"And the BBC must uphold the highest standards, be accountable and correct errors quickly."

Davey then asks if Starmer will sack former Tory adviser Sir Robbie Gibb from the BBC's board.

Starmer says he agrees that the Tories undermined the BBC - "they undermined pretty well everything they did in 14 years".

On Gibb, Starmer adds: "I'm not going to go into the individual runnings of the BBC."

Badenoch presses on with a focus on what she calls the "toxic culture" at Number 10.

She says the PMs allies accused the health secretary, home secretary and energy secretary of launching leadership bids.

"These attacks came from Number 10, nowhere else," she says.

"His toxic Number 10. The person responsible for the culture in Number 10 is his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney. 

She asks: "Does the prime minister have full confidence in him?"

In a response that would appear to be a less than definitive backing of his chief of staff,  Starmer says: "Morgan McSweeney, my team and I absolutely focused on delivering for the country. 

The Tory leader begins her next comments by noting that she "didn't hear the PM give full confidence to Morgan McSweeney".

She says Starmer has "lost control of number 10" , adding that "the real scandal is that two weeks from a budget, the government has descended into civil war."

To howls of laughter and derision from the opposition benches, Starmer replies: "Mr speaker, this is a united team and we are delivering."

The speaker then intervenes in an attempt to quell the jeers from Tory MPs, saying: "If people want to audition for the pantomime, I suggest you go to the Old Vic."

 At PMQs, Sir Keir Starmer is asked by Kemi Badenoch about the briefings against Wes Streeting.

"The health secretary said there is a toxic culture in Downing Street that needs to change. He's right, isn't he?" Badenoch says.

Starmer replies: "Let me be absolutely clear - any attack on any member of my cabinet is completely unacceptable.

"I've never authorised attacks on cabinet members.

"I appointed them to that post because they're the best people to carry out that job."

Sir Keir Starmer is about to pop up for Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons.

Ahead of the weekly showdown, political editor Beth Rigby tells us what she think will happen.

"I think what you're going to see in the Commons in a moment is the prime minister coming out in full support for Wes Streeting. 

"But there is bad blood now and, some allies around Wes.

"And there's questions about what Keir Starmer does now."

Beth says there's pressure from some for the PM to sack the person briefing.

She adds that MPs a "really unhappy".

"I think the bigger point in all of this is, as I understood it, from the conversations I've been having in recent days, it is true that MPs are wondering about the future of Keir Starmer in the context of leading them into the next general election - but that actually any move against Keir Starmer, as I understood it, there was a settled view that that would come potentially after the ballot box test in May."