Wes Streeting is an apex predator – and he senses blood in the water. By launching his leadership campaign with an unequivocal pitch for Britain to rejoin the European Union, the former health secretary has stopped the ‘Andy Burnham for PM’ juggernaut in its tracks. But is that any way to make a bid to run the country? Sean O’Grady asks.
A Calculated Move
What is Wes up to? This is a question that Labour Party members will likely ask themselves repeatedly in the coming weeks. Sources close to Streeting, who may soon be dubbed the Mancunian Candidate, suggest that his EU rejoin pitch was deliberately designed to disrupt Andy Burnham’s bid for Makerfield. Unless Burnham wins the upcoming by-election, the Greater Manchester mayor remains ineligible to join the scramble to replace Keir Starmer, leaving Streeting in a more advantageous position.
Burnham has previously made similar Europhile statements, such as at the last Labour conference when his bid to oust Starmer collapsed. He stated, “I hope it happens in my lifetime. People prosper more when they’re part of unions. That’s my belief, and I’ll say it clearly.” However, now campaigning in a Brexit-supporting area – Makerfield voted 64% Leave in 2016 – Burnham has adopted a more cautious line: “In the long-term, there is a case for rejoining, but I'm not advocating that in this by-election.” This apparent contradiction has made Burnham look foolish, effectively endorsing EU membership except in his current constituency.
Machiavellian Reputation
Like his former friend and mentor Peter Mandelson, Streeting has cultivated a reputation for Machiavellian cunning and mastery of the dark arts of politics, which intimidates his enemies – of whom he has accumulated many. Media and rivals alike perceive him as constantly plotting the downfall of others in his singular pursuit of power. He is an obsessive politician, highly intelligent and insightful, with a natural talent for communication. His political instincts are so sharp that he may not even need to consciously scheme against Burnham; like a great white shark taking down a dolphin, it comes naturally.
Internal Party Dynamics
Why are both men discussing EU rejoin, even as a distant dream? Why upset the careful Labour manifesto formula of seeking closer ties without joining the single market, customs union, or reinstating free movement? The answer lies in appealing to the 300,000 Labour Party members, an overwhelmingly Europhile group. Both are telling members what they want to hear to win an internal election. However, the rest of the country cannot help but overhear, and many will be appalled that Labour seems to want to re-enter the “long national nightmare” of Brexit. This highlights the flaw in electing a leader through internal party dynamics that do not translate to national appeal.
Will there be a useful “battle of ideas” on reforming welfare spending while boosting defence without losing market confidence? Unlikely. This mirrors the process when Boris Johnson was leaving and Liz Truss promised tax cuts that would pay for themselves, defeating Rishi Sunak’s more cautious approach – with disastrous results. Wes Streeting, Andy Burnham, and any other contender will have to play the same game: say what is needed to enter No 10, and worry about the consequences later.
This is no way to run a party or a country, and not even Streeting’s political genius can make it work.
