UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting is reportedly preparing to resign and challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the Labour Party leadership, with some reports suggesting he could announce his resignation as early as Thursday. According to The Times, cited by both Reuters and BBC News, Streeting met with Starmer on Wednesday morning at 10 Downing Street for less than 20 minutes, following days of intense speculation about a potential leadership challenge.
Key Takeaways
UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting is preparing to resign and challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the Labour Party leadership, potentially announcing his resignation as early as Thursday. Several MPs have resigned in support of Streeting's bid, but he still needs the backing of 81 MPs to force a leadership election.
The prime minister's spokesman stated that Sir Keir had 'full confidence' in Streeting but declined to comment on the details of their meeting. Supporters of Wes Streeting expect him to trigger a leadership election as soon as Thursday. According to The Guardian, several MPs have resigned in support of a potential Streeting bid, including Jess Phillips, who criticized Starmer's leadership in her resignation letter.
Under Labour Party rules, Streeting would need the support of 81 MPs to force a vote of party members. Sir Keir would automatically be a candidate without needing nominations himself. The BBC reports that some MPs on the party's right have signed a statement warning against a leadership contest at this time.
As reported by The Guardian, Streeting's ambition has long been an open topic within Labour, with allies playing down the prospect of a bid as recently as the weekend. The strategy was to be prepared if a contest began rather than instigating one. However, Starmer's resilience and Downing Street briefings against Streeting shifted the narrative.
Streeting's meeting with Starmer on Wednesday morning was described by some as a minor chore for the prime minister, with reports suggesting it lasted either 16 or 17 minutes. Despite this, close allies of Streeting have been contacting MPs to seek support, indicating that the net is being thrown wide to collect the necessary names. The timing and viability of any bid remain unclear, with some ministers loyal to Streeting expected to resign first.
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