Health Secretary Wes Streeting arrived at 10 Downing Street for a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that lasted less than 20 minutes on Wednesday morning, as the Prime Minister continues to fend off calls to resign. Streeting did not speak to reporters on his way in or out of Number 10.
Leadership Tensions
The talks with Streeting, seen as one of the key rivals for the Labour leadership, come after Starmer has so far managed to see off an immediate threat this week despite ministerial resignations and at least 80 MPs calling for him to quit. However, on Wednesday morning, unions pulled their support, stating it is clear that Starmer will not lead Labour into the next election.
Starmer's camp has suggested there is no consensus within Labour about holding a leadership contest. Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told broadcasters that the week had been "turbulent" for the Prime Minister, but that MPs had not united behind a candidate to trigger a contest, adding "we are moving on."
Denials of Showdown
Thomas-Symonds insisted the two were "having a coffee" and dismissed the idea that it was a showdown over Starmer's leadership. "Anyone would think we were talking about the final scene at a Casino Royale or something, looking at some of the coverage that we’ve had," he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. He earlier told BBC Breakfast: "There is no contest for the leadership of the Labour Party. There’s a very clear way to do that under our rules of 81 people nominating an alternative candidate. That hasn’t happened. The contest hasn’t been triggered. We are moving on. I’m not saying yesterday wasn’t turbulent. It evidently was, but we are moving, getting on with delivery."
Government Agenda Continues
The Government is seeking to carry on as usual by setting out its legislative agenda for the coming parliamentary session in the King’s Speech on Wednesday. However, the SNP has said it will seek to force a vote on Starmer’s future in an amendment to the King’s Speech. New SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan said: "If the Labour Cabinet ministers don’t have the decency to do the right thing – then Parliament must. Unless they put an end to this chaos now, the SNP will table a motion of no confidence in Keir Starmer to draw things to a close."
Economic and Union Pressure
Meanwhile, UK long-term borrowing costs eased back after reaching a 28-year high on Tuesday, as Starmer continues to defy calls to stand down. However, Labour’s affiliated unions have called for a plan to be put in place for the election of a new leader of the Labour Party. A statement from the TULO group, which represents 11 unions, said Labour "cannot continue on its current path." The unions, including Unite, Unison, and the GMB, said: "It’s clear that the Prime Minister will not lead Labour into the next election, and at some stage a plan will have to be put in place for the election of a new Leader."
Potential Successors
Streeting is among several Labour figures said to have ambitions to succeed Starmer, but has reportedly backed down from launching an immediate leadership bid. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, a leading figure from the soft-left of the party widely seen as a contender, would first need an MP willing to stand aside so he could fight a by-election and chart a path back to Parliament. Sources close to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband have denied reports that he is preparing to run if Streeting triggers a contest.
The Prime Minister has sought to push on, already having replaced four ministers – including prominent MP Jess Phillips and health minister Zubir Ahmed, an ally of Streeting – who quit the Government and called for Starmer to stand down. Glasgow South West MP Ahmed, who is an ally of the Health Secretary, said the situation was "unsustainable" and it was "telling" that the whole Cabinet had not articulated support for the Prime Minister in the "full-throated way" they had previously. "I think people who are articulating their dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister in private, they do have a responsibility to say that in public and directly to him, because this situation is unsustainable. It is now unstable and I think, therefore, we do need an expedient and orderly transition," he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
