Wes Streeting has warned that Labour is “currently losing” the fight against populist nationalism and risks handing the keys of No 10 to Reform UK. In his first Commons speech since resigning as health secretary, Streeting called on the party to be bolder and deliver real change, or face defeat at the next election.
Streeting resigned last week and urged Keir Starmer to step down as prime minister, though he fell short of launching a formal leadership challenge due to insufficient support from Labour MPs. In his speech, he praised Starmer for keeping the UK out of the US-Israel war against Iran but criticised the government’s cautious approach, saying it had allowed parties like Reform UK to hijack patriotism.
“Never waste a minute – that’s been my mantra in government, and it’s why I don’t believe our party has time to waste in government treading water,” Streeting told MPs. “The Labour party was elected to deliver real change. We still can.” He added that unless the government changes course, it risks handing victory to Reform UK, which he described as a threat to the country’s values.
Streeting also took aim at nationalist parties in Scotland and Wales, warning that Scottish and Welsh nationalism poses an “existential threat” to the UK’s integrity. He argued that patriotism should not be left to “the loudest voices and the narrowest arguments,” and called for a more inclusive vision of Britain.
On Europe, Streeting reiterated his view that leaving the EU was a mistake, especially given the current geopolitical landscape dominated by the US, China, and Russia. He also highlighted a breakdown in the inter-generational contract, saying young people face the biggest burden from Covid, unaffordable housing, and the threat of AI to jobs, and urged the government to fight for them.
