Wes Streeting has resigned as health secretary and appears poised to force a Labour leadership contest, stating it is "clear" that Sir Keir Starmer will not lead the party into the next general election. In his resignation letter to the prime minister, issued on Thursday lunchtime, Streeting wrote: "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. 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."
This development follows days of intense speculation about the prime minister's future after Labour's dismal performance in the local elections. Potential candidates include former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, and energy secretary Ed Miliband. Sir Keir stated on Monday that he would not "walk away," but dozens of Labour MPs have since called on him to resign or set a timetable for his departure, with Streeting's resignation delivering the latest blow to the besieged prime minister's grip on power.
How would a Labour leadership contest work?
There is no formal confidence vote procedure to oust a Labour leader. Any challenger to Sir Keir would need the support of 81 MPs — 20 per cent of the party in the Commons — to trigger a contest. Written nominations must be submitted to Labour general secretary Hollie Ridley. In the case of a successful challenge, Sir Keir would be on the ballot by default as the incumbent and would not need to gather nominations. If Sir Keir were to resign, it would automatically start a contest for a new leader. The Labour Party's National Executive Committee sets the timeline for a leadership election.
What is the latest?
Speculation about the prime minister's future has surged since the local elections, where Labour lost almost 1,500 English councillors, went backwards in Scotland, and slumped to third in Wales. This electoral mauling prompted a succession of Labour MPs to call for the prime minister to step down or set a timetable for his departure. In a speech in central London on Monday, Sir Keir took "responsibility" for the losses but insisted he would fight on, saying: "I'm not going to shy away from the fact that I've got some doubters, including in my own party. I'm not going to shy away from the fact that I have to prove them wrong, and I will." However, Streeting's resignation and criticism of the prime minister now appears to have started the gun on a leadership election. Reports suggest that Ms Rayner and Mr Miliband could put themselves forward, while Mr Burnham would require a return to parliament to participate in any such race.
