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.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer finds himself in a precarious position as political tensions rise following the resignation of a key government figure. The departure of a prominent rival has sparked accusations of a lack of direction, and now, others within the party are appearing ready to challenge his leadership.
The Labour Party’s poor performance in recent local elections has thrown the UK into another bout of political uncertainty. This comes less than two years after Starmer secured a significant majority, promising to deliver stability and put an end to a decade marked by political turmoil.
In the wake of mounting pressure from within the Labour ranks, Wes Streeting, who served as Health Minister, has resigned, becoming the first senior official to do so. Streeting stated his decision was based on the belief that Starmer would not lead the party into the next general election. Calls for Starmer to step down or outline his departure plans have been growing louder among Labour politicians.
Despite Streeting’s resignation, no formal leadership challenge has been initiated, and several high-ranking cabinet ministers have publicly affirmed their support for Starmer.
According to Streeting’s resignation letter, Labour MPs and trade unions are urging that the ensuing discussion should prioritize policy ideas over individual personalities or internal party divisions.
“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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