Labour's Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has been accused of "opportunistic" manoeuvring by a party colleague after he publicly suggested Britain should consider rejoining a European Union customs union.
An 'Early Shot' in a Potential Leadership Contest
The remarks, made in a weekend interview, have ignited fresh speculation about Streeting's leadership ambitions and exposed a clear fault line within the Labour Party over future relations with Brussels. Fellow Labour MP Graham Stringer did not hold back in his criticism, telling Times Radio that he believed the intervention was a calculated move.
"It's just Wes being opportunistic knowing that, I think, it's nearly 30 per cent of the Labour Party membership is in London, and most of those people seem to be in favour of rejoining the EU," Stringer stated. He framed the comments as "an early shot in what might be a leadership election after the May local elections."
Clashing with the PM's 'Red Lines'
In his interview with the Observer, Streeting described Prime Minister Keir Starmer's current post-Brexit "reset" deal with the EU as a "good start." However, he argued that the best way to boost the UK economy would be through a "closer trading relationship", explicitly indicating support for customs union membership.
This position directly contradicts the Prime Minister's stated policy. Sir Keir has twice ruled out rejoining the EU customs union in the past month, a move that would also breach the pledges made in Labour's election manifesto. Downing Street was quick to reiterate this stance, with the PM's spokesman stating they would stick to their "red lines" while seeking to strengthen ties with the EU.
Mounting Speculation and Denials
The episode fuels ongoing Westminster gossip about Streeting's long-term intentions. Last month, Downing Street insiders accused him of plotting a coup. While Streeting insists he gives the Prime Minister his "absolute support", he once again refused to deny any desire to eventually run the country, saying he was "diplomatically ducking the question."
Political observers note that Streeting, alongside Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, is increasingly seen as being on the political manoeuvre. This comes as Sir Keir Starmer faces potentially difficult local elections in May.
The public airing of a major policy divergence on a core issue like EU relations highlights the delicate balancing act within the Labour Party and sets the stage for continued internal debate as the government's term progresses.
