Wes Streeting Resigns, Citing Loss of Confidence in Sir Keir Starmer
Wes Streeting has stepped down from his role as health secretary, declaring that he has lost faith in Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's leadership.
In his resignation letter, Streeting stated it was evident that Sir Keir would not lead the Labour Party into the forthcoming general election.
Streeting noted that Labour MPs and unions would desire a "debate about what comes next," though he did not explicitly announce a formal challenge to Sir Keir's leadership.
Speculation and Meeting with Sir Keir
This announcement follows several days of intense speculation that Streeting was preparing to launch a bid to replace Sir Keir as Labour leader, with allies suggesting he would do so as early as Thursday.
On Wednesday morning, Streeting met with the prime minister at 10 Downing Street for less than 20 minutes, after numerous Labour MPs called for Sir Keir to resign.
Record as Health Secretary and Reasons for Resignation
Highlighting his achievements as health secretary, including a reduction in NHS waiting times, Streeting acknowledged there were "good reasons for me to remain in post."
However, he added:
"As you know from our conversation earlier this week, having lost confidence in your leadership, I have concluded that it would be dishonourable and unprincipled to do so."
He attributed Labour's poor performance in last week's elections to the "unpopularity of this government," emphasizing that the party needed a clear vision but instead faced "a vacuum."
"Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords," Streeting said.
He further stated that the country confronts significant challenges that "require a bold vision and bigger solutions than we are offering."
"It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election and that Labour MPs and Labour unions want the debate about what comes next to be a battle of ideas, not of personalities or petty factionalism," Streeting wrote.
"It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates. I support that approach and I hope that you will facilitate this."
Leadership Contest and Support
Under Labour Party rules, a leadership contest requires the backing of 81 Labour MPs.
Allies of Streeting indicated he had secured this level of support but chose to pressure the prime minister to establish a timetable for his departure rather than immediately initiate a leadership contest.
Alan Gemmell, who supports Streeting as the next Labour leader, affirmed that the former health secretary had the support of more than 81 MPs.
The MP for Central Ayrshire told the BBC that Streeting had "taken a principled decision today not to trigger a contest."
"It's clear in conversations with MPs and with the unions that the party wants a discussion, a battle of ideas, an open contest, a broad contest for the direction that we should take and how we fix the problems that we're in," Gemmell said.
Indicating expectations that Streeting would challenge Sir Keir, he added:
"I'm sure that we will see Wes making the argument for why he would be a great leader of our country."
Call for Inclusive Leadership Debate
Streeting's appeal for a "broad" debate about the party's leadership, featuring the "best possible field of candidates," suggests an intention to include other senior Labour figures in the process.
Although he does not mention Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham by name in his resignation letter, Streeting appears to hint at his potential inclusion in any future leadership contest.
Burnham would need to win a parliamentary by-election and become an MP to enter a Labour leadership contest, a complex and uncertain undertaking.
Strategy and Pressure on Sir Keir
Streeting's approach seems focused on rallying his supporters to increase pressure on the prime minister to resign.
One senior ally of the former health secretary commented:
"We wait and see what Keir does. There's still a chance Keir goes of his own accord and sets a timetable and ends this chaos."
Supporters of Streeting suggest that additional ministers might resign later on Thursday, though not necessarily from cabinet positions.
Current Political Context
Sir Keir is striving to maintain his leadership after four junior ministers resigned and dozens of Labour MPs called for his resignation following significant losses in elections across England, Scotland, and Wales last week.
On Wednesday evening, Sir Keir convened a series of meetings with Labour MPs and ministers in Parliament, stating:
"We cannot let a leadership contest plunge us into chaos - a challenge would 100% do that."
