In what position does this mudslinging position Britain's leadership?
"It's not been the government's finest 24 hours in government," one senior figure in government admitted following internal criticism from multiple sides, partly public, considerably more behind closed doors.
It began with anonymous briefings to journalists, including myself, that Sir Keir would fight any attempt to remove him - while claiming cabinet ministers, particularly the Health Secretary, were plotting challenges.
Streeting insisted he was loyal to the PM and called on the individuals responsible for these reports to face dismissal, and the PM announced that any attacks against cabinet members were deemed "unjustifiable".
Inquiries regarding if Starmer had approved the original briefings to flush out likely opponents - and whether those behind them were doing so with his awareness, or approval, were thrown amid the controversy.
Was there going to be an investigation into leaks? Would there be sackings in what the Health Secretary described as a "toxic" Number 10 operation?
What were individuals near the prime minister hoping to achieve?
There have been making loads of discussions to piece together the real situation and in what position this situation places the Labour government.
Exist crucial realities at the heart to this situation: the leadership has poor ratings along with the PM.
These facts act as the rocket fuel behind the constant discussions circulating about what the government is trying to do regarding this and possible consequences for how long Starmer carries on in Downing Street.
Now considering the aftermath following the political fighting.
The Reconciliation
Starmer and Health Secretary Wes Streeting spoke on the phone on Wednesday evening to resolve differences.
Sources indicate Sir Keir said sorry to the Health Secretary in the brief call and both consented to converse in further detail "soon".
Their discussion excluded Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's top aide - who has emerged as a focal point for blame from various sources including opposition leader Badenoch publicly to government officials both junior and senior in private.
Widely credited as the architect of Labour's election landslide and the political brain responsible for Starmer's rapid ascent after moving from previous role, the chief of staff also finds himself among those facing blame if the Prime Minister's office appears to have faltered, struggled or completely malfunctioned.
There's no response to media inquiries, amid calls for his head on a stick.
Detractors argue that in a Downing Street where his role requires to make plenty of big political judgements, he should take responsibility for how all of this unfolded.
Others in the building insist no staff member was behind any information targeting a minister, post the Health Secretary's comments whoever was responsible must be fired.
Aftermath
Within Downing Street, there's implicit acceptance that the Health Minister managed a series of scheduled media appearances the other day professionally and effectively - even while facing persistent queries regarding his aspirations because the leaks about him came just hours before.
For some Labour MPs, he exhibited flexibility and communication skills they desire the Prime Minister shared.
It also won't have gone unnoticed that various of the reports that tried to support Starmer led to an opportunity for Wes to say he agreed with from party members who labeled the PM's office as hostile and discriminatory and those who were behind the reports should be sacked.
What a mess.
"I remain loyal" - Streeting rejects suggestions to challenge Starmer as PM.
Internal Reactions
The PM, sources reveal, is extremely angry about the way these events has developed and is looking into what occurred.
What looks to have malfunctioned, according to government sources, is both volume and emphasis.
First, they had, maybe optimistically, believed that the briefings would create certain coverage, instead of extensive leading stories.
Ultimately to be much louder than expected.
I'd say any leader letting this kind of thing become public, through allies, under two years after a landslide general election win, was always going to be leading major news – as it turned out to be, in various publications.
Additionally, on emphasis, they insist they were surprised by considerable attention regarding the Health Secretary, that was subsequently greatly amplified by all those interviews he had scheduled the other day.
Others, it must be said, concluded that specifically that the purpose.
Wider Consequences
This represents further period when government officials talk about gaining understanding and among MPs plenty are irritated concerning what appears as a ridiculous situation unfolding forcing them to initially observe and then attempt to defend.
And they would rather not do either.
But a government and a prime minister displaying concern about their predicament exceeds {than their big majority|their parliamentary advantage|their