LONDON (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was battling to maintain his authority over his party on Wednesday after one of his most senior ministers criticised the “toxic” culture in his team and was forced to deny he planned a leadership bid.

Wes Streeting, the health minister, accused Starmer’s allies of trying to “kneecap” him with the briefings and condemned what he called the “self-defeating” attacks on him coming from Downing Street.

Here is an explanation of how Starmer could face a leadership challenge under the governing Labour Party’s rules:

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR THERE TO BE A LEADERSHIP CONTEST?

A leadership challenge can be triggered if 20% of Labour members of parliament support a candidate to replace Starmer.

There are currently 405 Labour members of parlia

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