In brief
- UK health secretary Wes Streeting has resigned, mounting more pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
- There have been growing calls for Starmer to resign from within his own party.
The political landscape in the United Kingdom faces yet another turbulent chapter as Prime Minister Keir Starmer contends with significant challenges to his leadership. His main adversary within the government has stepped down, citing a lack of direction in Starmer’s political approach, and others are seemingly preparing to contest his position.
Last week’s local elections delivered a severe blow to the Labour Party, resulting in poor outcomes that have deepened the UK’s current crisis. This setback comes less than two years after Starmer secured a substantial majority with promises of stability and an end to years of political upheaval.
Amid mounting pressure from within his own party, Starmer has faced increasing calls from Labour politicians to either resign or outline a plan for his eventual departure. In a significant move, Wes Streeting, the health minister, became the first senior official to resign, declaring that “it is now clear you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election.”
Despite his resignation, Streeting has not initiated a formal leadership contest. Meanwhile, several senior cabinet ministers have reaffirmed their support for Starmer, highlighting the ongoing complexities within the party.
Labour MPs and trade unions are advocating for a forward-looking debate focused on ideas rather than personal rivalries or factional disputes, as articulated in Streeting’s resignation letter. He emphasized the need for an inclusive discussion and a diverse pool of candidates, stating, “It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates.”
“It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates,” Streeting wrote.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, also from Labour, said separately he would seek a seat in parliament — a move that could pave the way for him to challenge Starmer.
‘We need direction’
“Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift,” Streeting said.
“Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords.”
Starmer responded with a letter expressing regret Streeting had stepped down, saying “it is incumbent on all of us to rise to what I see as a battle for the soul of our nation” and “turn the page on the chaos”.
A source close to Streeting said the former health minister had enough support to mount a formal leadership challenge but had not triggered an immediate contest because he felt it would be preferable for Starmer to set out an orderly timetable.
Starmer has said he will battle to keep his job, and sources close to him say he is determined to fight any leadership contest.
The pound edged lower after Streeting’s resignation and news that Burnham would seek to return to parliament.
“It moves us one step closer to a Labour leadership challenge. How many steps are between here and there, that’s still uncertain,” Nick Rees, head of macro research at foreign exchange company at Monex Europe, said.
Earlier on Thursday, Starmer’s former deputy, Angela Rayner, said she had been cleared of deliberate wrongdoing over her tax affairs, an impediment to any leadership contest, but she would not say whether she wanted to launch a formal bid.
Labour politician Josh Simons said he would resign from his seat in Greater Manchester, opening a possible route for Burnham to win a place in parliament — something he would need to do to become prime minister.
Burnham said he would seek permission to stand as Labour’s candidate in the seat but stopped short of saying he would challenge Starmer.
“Much bigger change is needed at a national level if everyday life is to be made more affordable again. This is why I now seek people’s support to return to parliament,” he said on X.
Another potential candidate is armed forces minister Al Carns, a former Royal Marine seen by some in Labour as a new face who could freshen up the party.
But education minister Bridget Phillipson reiterated her backing for Starmer and suggested the rest of his cabinet were supportive.
“This is now a chance for us to pause, take a breath as a party and try and draw a line under all of this,” she said.
Starmer, 63, has adopted a “business-as-usual” approach and finance minister Rachel Reeves warned others against plunging the UK into chaos when its anaemic economy was turning a corner. The economy grew unexpectedly in March.
Business leaders fear that another leadership race to choose what would be Britain’s seventh prime minister in about a decade would deter investment – something the Labour government has said must improve to turn around Britain’s fortunes.
The political instability has pushed borrowing costs higher, with some investors nervous about the possible election of a more left-wing, tax-and-spend Labour prime minister.
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