UK health secretary resigns as pressure mounts on Keir Starmer
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London: Wes Streeting resigned from the British Cabinet on Thursday, saying he had lost confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, deepening the political crisis within the ruling Labour Party.
Streeting, regarded as a frontrunner to eventually replace Starmer at 10 Downing Street, is now expected to prepare a bid for the Labour leadership if he can secure the backing of the required 81 Labour Members of Parliament.
The resignation adds to mounting pressure on Starmer, who has been struggling to contain internal dissent following Labour’s poor performance in last week’s local elections.
“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 in his resignation letter to Starmer.
“It needs to be broad, and it needs to be the best possible field of candidates. I support that approach and I hope you will facilitate it,” he added.
The former health secretary accused Starmer of lacking a clear vision and presiding over what he described as a “vacuum” of leadership. At the same time, he defended his own record in charge of the Department for Health and Social Care and the state-funded National Health Service.
“The National Health Service is the embodiment of all that is best about Britain and our values. Thanks to our Labour government, it is on the road to recovery: lots done, but so much more to do,” Streeting said.
“These are all good reasons for me to remain in post, but 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 added.
His remarks are being widely interpreted as laying the groundwork for a Labour leadership contest.
Among the names expected to emerge as potential contenders are former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.
Although there are indications that a formal leadership challenge may not happen immediately, Starmer’s position is increasingly seen as fragile, particularly if Labour’s National Executive Committee becomes involved in launching an official election process.
Meanwhile, Rayner confirmed earlier on Thursday that she had been cleared by UK tax authorities over allegations linked to her financial affairs, an issue that had forced her to resign from the Cabinet last year.
“I took reasonable care and acted in good faith, based on the expert advice I received, and HMRC has accepted this,” she said.
Her statement is being viewed as a signal that she is prepared to enter the race if a Labour leadership contest is triggered.
The latest upheaval comes after a series of resignations by junior ministers in recent weeks, though Starmer has attempted to steady his government by quickly appointing replacements.
Earlier, Chancellor Rachel Reeves warned colleagues against plunging Britain into further instability.
“We shouldn’t put that at risk by plunging the country into chaos at a time when there is conflict in the world, but also at a time when our plan to grow the economy is starting to bear fruit,” Reeves said.
Despite those appeals, divisions within the Labour Party are expected to intensify further in the coming days and weeks.
With PTI inputs