Keir Starmer appeared to have seen off an immediate challenge to his leadership on Tuesday after a widely anticipated bid from Health Secretary Wes Streeting failed to materialise. Downing Street insiders suggested that Streeting did not yet have the support of the 81 MPs required to trigger a formal contest, despite several of his allies resigning from the government.
Streeting was due to meet Starmer on Wednesday to discuss his concerns, with No 10 sources indicating he was backing down from speculation that he was on the brink of launching a leadership bid. One loyalist cabinet minister expressed frustration, saying: “After all that, it’s looking like Wes may not have the numbers after all. The best thing for him now is to come out with some dignity and end the drama.”
The prime minister’s authority has been further weakened by the resignation of four ministers, three of whom are close allies of Streeting. More than 90 Labour MPs have called for Starmer to go. However, at a private meeting on Tuesday, Labour-affiliated unions were divided over whether to demand a timetable for his departure. They eventually agreed to issue a statement saying Starmer would not lead the party into the next election, despite some unions arguing against involvement in leadership matters.
Sources also revealed that Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, had been prepared to run for leader if Streeting had launched a challenge. Miliband would have struck a deal with Angela Rayner and Louise Haigh for one of them to stand as the soft-left candidate. However, Miliband’s allies denied he was preparing to run, calling it “mischief making”.
Earlier on Tuesday, a defiant Starmer told his cabinet he would fight on, saying the threshold for a leadership challenge had not been met. He said: “I take responsibility for these election results and I take responsibility for delivering the change we promised. The past 48 hours have been destabilising for government and that has a real economic cost for our country and for families.”
