Wes Streeting is reportedly informing his allies of his intention to step down from his government position and initiate a leadership competition possibly as early as tomorrow.
The Health Secretary, long considered a potential contender, had a brief 16-minute crisis meeting with Keir Starmer on Wednesday morning amidst internal strife within the Labour Party. More than 80 MPs have openly called for the Prime Minister to resign following the election setback last week.
Just before the King’s Speech ceremony, reports surfaced in the Times suggesting that Mr. Streeting is gearing up to make his move. One source indicated, “He is set to take action. It’s happening tomorrow.” Dismissing speculation that the senior Cabinet member, who has denied any aspirations for the top role, has backed down.
To trigger a leadership challenge within the Labour Party, Mr. Streeting would need the support of 81 MPs, representing 20% of the parliamentary party. Should a contest ensue, Mr. Starmer would automatically be a candidate as the incumbent.
When approached by the Mirror, a spokesperson for the Health Secretary neither confirmed nor denied the rumors of his impending resignation to spark a leadership contest. Emphasizing Streeting’s pride in his achievements in reducing waiting lists and improving the NHS, the spokesperson stated there were no plans for any distracting statements following the meeting with the Prime Minister.
Exiting Downing Street after the talks aimed at addressing concerns within his faction regarding the party’s direction, the Health Secretary declined to comment to reporters. Expectations of a temporary ceasefire among Labour’s factions ahead of the King’s Speech were overshadowed by lingering tensions likely to resurface post-ceremony.
In the event that Mr. Streeting challenges the Prime Minister, other prominent party figures, such as former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, may also consider entering the leadership race. While Rayner had previously endorsed the return of Andy Burnham to Parliament, she could step into the fray if Streeting pushes for a swift transition before Burnham’s potential return.
Earlier, Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds downplayed the significance of the meeting between Mr. Streeting and the PM, likening it to a casual conversation. Despite acknowledging recent turbulence, Thomas-Symonds noted that MPs had not unified around a successor. However, Labour’s union supporters have called for a plan to replace the Prime Minister before the next election.
TULO, representing 11 affiliated unions including Unite, GMB, and Unison, stressed that Labour’s current trajectory is unsustainable. They highlighted the need for a leadership change, stating that the Prime Minister would not lead the party into the next election, necessitating a plan for selecting a new leader.