Streeting resigns and criticises government's 'drift'

Wes Streeting has resigned as health secretary saying he has lost confidence in Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's leadership, deepening the political crisis engulfing the Labour government.

In his resignation letter, Streeting said it was clear Sir Keir would not lead Labour into the next general election, criticising his government's "drift" and lack of "vision".

Streeting said Labour MPs and unions would want a "debate about what comes next" but did not say he was formally launching a challenge to Sir Keir's leadership.

It comes after days of intense speculation that Streeting was planning a bid to replace Sir Keir as Labour leader, with allies saying he would do so as soon as Thursday.

Streeting met the prime minister in 10 Downing Street for less than 20 minutes on Wednesday morning, after dozens of Labour MPs urged Sir Keir to stand down.

Highlighting his record as health secretary, including a reduction in NHS waiting times, Streeting said there were "good reasons for me to remain in post".

But 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."

Blaming the "unpopularity of this government" for Labour's dire results in last week's elections, Streeting said Labour needed a vision but instead "we have a vacuum".

"Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords," Streeting said.

He said the country faced big 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 said.

"It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates."

Although he does not name the Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham in his resignation letter, Streeting appears to nod towards his inclusion in any future contest.

Burnham would need to win a parliamentary by-election and become an MP to enter a Labour leadership contest, a complicated endeavour fraught with risk and uncertainty.

Streeting would need the support of 81 Labour MPs to trigger a leadership contest under the party's rules.

Allies of Streeting said he did have the numbers, but decided to put pressure on the prime minister to set out a timetable for his departure, rather than kick off an immediate leadership contest.

Alan Gemmell – who is backing Streeting to be the next Labour leader – insisted the former health secretary had the support of more than 81 MPs but 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," the MP for Central Ayrshire told the BBC.

Indicating he expected Streeting to 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."

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said Sir Keir "has my full support" and "has the cabinet behind him".

She said Streeting had done "a fantastic job" as health secretary, but added: "I fundamentally disagree with the position he's taken.

"I'm sad that he's gone, but I think 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."

Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner also returned to the political fray on Thursday, announcing she had resolved her tax affairs with HMRC following an investigation, settling £40,000 in unpaid stamp duty.

Rayner, who is also seen as a potential challenger to Sir Keir, told the Guardian newspaper she did not rule out running in any Labour leadership race but said she would not "trigger" a contest.

She has also called for Burnham to be allowed to return to Parliament.

Four ministers have already quit earlier this week and dozens of Labour MPs have urged Sir Keir to resign following last week's heavy losses in elections across England, Scotland and Wales.

It has left Sir Keir battling to save his premiership, just under two years after Labour won a landslide victory in the 2024 general election.

On Wednesday evening, Sir Keir held a series of meetings with Labour MPs and ministers in Parliament, telling colleagues: "We cannot let a leadership contest plunge us into chaos - a challenge would 100% do that."

One Labour MP loyal to Sir Keir told the BBC their colleagues were "losing their minds" and suggested many regretted calling for the prime minister to go given the chaos it had unleashed.

Catherine West, the Labour MP who just days ago threatened to challenge Sir Keir's leadership, suggested the prime minister could fight on.

She told the BBC she wanted "people coming forward" to stand as leader, including the prime minister.

"Because, of course, many of us like Keir very much as a person," West said.

"He's got excellent credentials on the international stage and he could well win a competition if he put his name forward."

One senior ally of the former health secretary said: "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 more ministers could resign from government later on Thursday, although not necessarily at cabinet level.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said the Labour Party had "descended into civil war".

"While they're sharpening their knives and plotting in the bars of Westminster, nobody is running the country," she said in a video posted on social media.