Wes Streeting has resigned as health secretary and called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step down, arguing that remaining in post would have been “dishonourable”. The move intensifies the crisis facing Starmer, who is already at record-low popularity ratings two years after winning a historic majority.
Streeting, a prominent figure on the right of the Labour Party, stopped short of launching an immediate leadership challenge. Instead, he called for a contest with a broad range of candidates, potentially including Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, and energy secretary Ed Miliband. Burnham would need to win the Makerfield by-election to stand.
In his resignation letter, Streeting criticised Starmer’s “heavy-handed approach to dissenting voices”, saying it “diminishes our politics”. He argued that the local elections had shown Starmer’s leadership was driving voters away, citing policy mistakes like the winter fuel allowance cut and a lack of clear vision. “Where we need vision, we have a vacuum,” he wrote.
Several allies of Streeting, including ministers Jess Phillips, Zubir Ahmed, and Alex Davies-Jones, resigned on Tuesday, calling for Starmer to go. Other backbench supporters such as Melanie Ward, Joe Morris, Chris Curtis, Alan Gemmell, and Jas Athwal have also urged the prime minister to resign. However, Streeting is believed to lack the backing of 81 MPs needed to force a direct challenge.
Number 10 sources expressed confidence that Streeting does not have sufficient support, with one MP noting that his team was “desperately trying to drum up support in the bars”. Another source said that dozens of his supporters are serving ministers, making him reluctant to ask them to quit. Starmer has told Streeting he will fight any challenge, and if he does not resign, he will automatically be on the ballot in a leadership contest.
