The future of Labour’s leadership has been thrown into deeper uncertainty after Wes Streeting resigned as health secretary and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham signalled a potential return to Westminster. On Thursday, Makerfield MP Josh Simons announced he would vacate his seat to allow Burnham to contest a by-election and challenge Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Simons stated that the Labour Party “owes it to people to come back together” following last week’s poor local election results. This came hours after Streeting sent a scathing resignation letter to Starmer, accusing him of lacking vision and direction.
How Could a Leadership Contest Be Triggered?
For a contest to be triggered, a challenger like Streeting must secure the backing of 81 Labour MPs. It remains unclear whether Streeting has reached this threshold, and his resignation letter suggested he would not immediately call for a contest. The process requires a formal challenge, after which candidates are put to a vote among party members using a preferential system. A candidate wins by securing over 50 per cent of first preferences, typically through rounds of elimination.
Who Could Stand and When?
Streeting indicated that any contest should be “broad”, leaving the door open for Burnham. However, Burnham faces logistical hurdles: he must first win a by-election in Makerfield, where Labour’s majority in 2024 was only 5,399 and Reform UK won all wards in the local elections. He also needs approval from Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to stand. Speculation also surrounds Angela Rayner, who denied a pact with Burnham and said she could run. Other potential candidates include armed forces minister Al Carns and energy secretary Ed Miliband.
Can Starmer Hold On?
Starmer’s survival depends on cabinet support. He told ministers that the formal process for a challenge had not been triggered, but without their confidence, his position would be untenable. Drawing parallels to Boris Johnson’s 2022 downfall, Starmer might attempt to replace resigning ministers with loyalists, but history suggests such efforts are short-lived.
