The resignation of Health Secretary Wes Streeting and the possible return of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to Westminster have thrown the future of the Labour leadership into further doubt, following days of mounting speculation about a challenge to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's position.
Will a leadership contest be triggered?
This depends on Mr Streeting, or another hopeful within the parliamentary party, securing the backing of 81 Labour MPs required to mount a challenge. It was unclear on Thursday whether he had reached this threshold, and his resignation letter appeared to imply he would not be triggering an immediate contest.
Who else could stand, and when?
In his letter, Mr Streeting said any contest should be “broad”, suggesting openness to Mr Burnham standing, though some interpret this as a sign the ex-minister lacks the numbers. Mr Burnham faces logistical hurdles, including needing to fight a by-election in Makerfield, where MP Josh Simons announced he would quit to create a vacancy. However, Mr Burnham requires permission from Labour’s National Executive Committee to contest the by-election and faces a tough fight in a seat where Labour’s majority in 2024 was just 5,399 and Reform UK won every ward in last week’s local elections.
Speculation has also intensified that Sir Keir’s former deputy Angela Rayner could stand after she said she was cleared of tax misconduct by HMRC. She denied a pact with Mr Burnham and indicated she could run. Armed forces minister Al Carns and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband have also been tipped as potential candidates.
How would a leadership contest work?
After a hopeful secures 81 backers in the Commons, candidates are put to a vote of party members, who rank them by preference. A winner is declared if they get over 50% of first preferences, usually through elimination rounds, with the timetable set by Labour’s NEC.
Can Sir Keir hold on?
This depends heavily on his Cabinet’s movements. Sir Keir has insisted he will fight any challenge, telling senior ministers that the formal process has not been triggered. However, without Cabinet confidence, it would be nearly impossible to govern. When Boris Johnson’s authority collapsed in 2022, he clung on briefly but resigned days after the first Cabinet minister quit.
