Wes Streeting today sparked allegations of a deal to support Andy Burnham's ambition to become prime minister after he quit the Cabinet and called for Keir Starmer to resign, but failed to launch his own leadership campaign.
Resignation and Call for Change
Mr Streeting resigned as health secretary and declared he had 'lost confidence' in Sir Keir. 'It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election,' he wrote. 'Where we need vision, we have a vacuum.' However, his lengthy departure letter to the PM made no mention of running to replace him, after allies in recent days demanded a 'swift' election period, seen as more helpful to his ambitions than Mr Burnham's.
Leadership Contest Speculation
Instead, hours before Mr Burnham confirmed he would seek a Westminster seat to run against Sir Keir, Mr Streeting urged a 'broad' contest with the 'best possible field of candidates'. There has been chatter about Cabinet ministers and potential contenders like Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham lining up behind a September timetable for replacing the PM. This raises suspicions that Mr Streeting, the least popular of the three expected challengers with Labour members, has done a deal to be given a senior job, perhaps Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Political Reactions
There are differing views on whether Mr Streeting simply fell short of the 81 nominations from Labour MPs necessary to spark a challenge, or has changed tactics. One senior party source said: 'He's blown himself up.' Sir Keir tonight signalled that he will fight any attempt to oust him. In a letter thanking Mr Streeting for his service, he pointedly added that Labour had to 'rise to what I see as a battle for the soul of our nation'. 'As part of that we must deliver on all of the promises we made to the country, including our promise to turn the page on the chaos that was roundly rejected by the British people at the last general election,' he went on.
Angela Rayner's Tax Clearance
The chaos took a dramatic twist this morning as Angela Rayner declared she had been cleared by the taxman. The former deputy PM announced that she has paid £40,000 to settle her wrangling with HMRC over unpaid stamp duty. Crucially, she insisted that she had not been made to pay any penalty for deliberately or 'carelessly' dodging tax. One ex-minister pointed out the developments taken together meant there was a Cabinet vacancy, and Ms Rayner was now available to make a return. Joking that Sir Keir could stabilise himself by making her Health Secretary, they said: 'With her vaping and smoking that will go down well.'
