It is the shadowy gathering of the global elite which has been described as 'the world's secret Government' – and this year Wes Streeting joined for the first time.

The Health Secretary's appearance at the Bilderberg Meeting in Sweden, sipping champagne in the company of billionaires, bankers and power brokers, is likely to spark fresh speculation about his ambitions to succeed Sir Keir Starmer.

Both his political mentors Tony Blair and Peter Mandelson have attended the event.

The group, which has been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories since it first met in 1954, was established to foster dialogue between Europe and North America and prevent another world war.

However, it is now defined as 'bolstering a consensus around free market Western capitalism and its interests around the globe' – not something that is likely to endear Mr Streeting, who is tipped by some as a future Labour leader, to the Left of his party.

The 42-year-old was spotted chatting to Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary and Goldman Sachs chairman José Manuel Barroso on a boat taking them to a lavish banquet at a palace on the Stockholm archipelago, owned by the hugely wealthy Wallenberg family.

He also met major CEOs, including Pfizer's Albert Bourla and Microsoft's Satya Nadella, in addition to Borge Brende, the president of the World Economic Forum; Sir John Sawers, the former head of MI6; Mark Rutte, the new head of Nato; the Greek Prime Minister; and four EU Commissioners. 

After the Saturday dinner, the group returned to the five-star Grand Hotel at around 11pm in a convoy of coaches flanked by a motorcade.

Mr Streeting left after lunch the next day. A Labour source said: 'Bilderberg regards itself as a spotter of rising talent – Wes would certainly include himself in that category.'

A spokesman for Mr Streeting said: 'The Government sends a representative to Bilderberg each year and this year Wes was the Government's representative.'