Health Secretary Wes Streeting arrived at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday morning for urgent talks with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, as the Labour leader faces mounting calls to resign. Streeting was inside for less than 20 minutes and did not speak to reporters upon arrival or departure.
Leadership Tensions Mount
The meeting with Streeting, widely regarded as one of the Prime Minister's key rivals for the Labour leadership, comes amid a turbulent week for Sir Keir. Despite ministerial resignations and at least 80 MPs calling for him to step down, the Prime Minister has so far managed to fend off an immediate challenge. However, on Wednesday morning, the party's affiliated unions withdrew their support, stating clearly that Sir Keir will not lead Labour into the next general election.
Sir Keir's camp has indicated that there is no consensus within the party to trigger a leadership contest. Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told broadcasters that Monday had been "turbulent" for the Prime Minister, but emphasised that MPs had not united behind an alternative candidate. "We are moving on," he insisted.
Dismissing Showdown Speculation
Thomas-Symonds dismissed suggestions that the meeting between Starmer and Streeting was a showdown over the leadership. "Anyone would think we were talking about the final scene at a Casino Royale or something, looking at some of the coverage that we’ve had," he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Speaking earlier on BBC Breakfast, he added: "There is no contest for the leadership of the Labour Party. There’s a very clear way to do that under our rules of 81 people nominating an alternative candidate. That hasn’t happened. The contest hasn’t been triggered. We are moving on. I’m not saying yesterday wasn’t turbulent. It evidently was, but we are moving, getting on with delivery."
Economic and Union Pressures
Meanwhile, UK long-term borrowing costs eased back after reaching a 28-year high on Tuesday, as Sir Keir continues to defy calls to stand down. However, the Labour Party's affiliated unions have called for a plan to be put in place for the election of a new leader. A statement from the TULO group, representing 11 unions including Unite, Unison, and the GMB, declared: "It’s clear that the Prime Minister will not lead Labour into the next election, and at some stage a plan will have to be put in place for the election of a new Leader."
