Health secretary Wes Streeting has resigned from the cabinet and is expected to launch a Labour leadership bid, as Sir Keir Starmer fights to save his premiership following disastrous local election results. The Labour Party lost almost 1,500 councillor seats, with Reform UK snatching councils in northern England and the Green Party taking control of some London authorities.
Sir Keir gave a make-or-break speech on Monday intended to avert a leadership challenge, but it was followed by dozens of Labour MPs calling for him to stand down. Cabinet ministers have also encouraged him to consider his position, opening a window for rumoured candidates to strike. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, and Mr Streeting are considered the frontrunners.
Mr Streeting confirmed his resignation on Thursday, saying it was “clear” Sir Keir would not lead Labour into the next general election, adding “where we need vision, we have a vacuum.” Ms Rayner has been cleared of deliberate wrongdoing in an investigation over her tax affairs, potentially paving the way for a leadership bid. Mr Burnham is widely popular but is not currently an MP, though the resignation of Josh Simon as MP for Makerfield opens a potential route back to Westminster.
Recent YouGov polling puts Mr Burnham far ahead of any other Labour figure in popularity, with 34 per cent of Britons thinking he would do a better job than Sir Keir. However, he faces a tough battle against Reform in Makerfield. Ms Rayner is popular on the soft left of the party, while Mr Streeting’s resignation has intensified the pressure on the prime minister.
