The Health Secretary, who has long been tipped as a possible challenger, held a 16-minute crisis meeting with Keir Starmer on Wednesday morning as civil war engulfed the Labour Party
Health Secretary Wes Streeting ‘preparing to quit government’ (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Wes Streeting has reportedly told allies he is preparing to resign from the government and trigger a leadership contest as soon as tomorrow.
The Health Secretary, who has long been tipped as a possible challenger, held a 16-minute crisis meeting with Keir Starmer on Wednesday morning as civil war engulfed the Labour Party. Over 80 MPs have publicly called on the Prime Minister to resign in the wake of last week’s election disaster.
Moments before the King’s Speech began, explosive briefings emerged that Mr Streeting has told allies he is preparing to walk. One told the Times: “He is going to go for it. He’s going tomorrow.”
Another dismissed the idea the senior Cabinet minister, who has repeatedly denied plotting for the top job, had “bottled it”.
In order for Mr Streeting to trigger a contest for the Labour leadership 20% of the parliamentary party – 81 MPs – must nominate him as a challenger. Mr Starmer, as the incumbent, would automatically be on the ballot paper if he decides to fight to stay in power in any contest.
A spokesman for the Health Secretary did not deny claims he was preparing to quit and trigger a contest when approached by The Mirror. The spokesman said: “Wes is the Health Secretary, he is proud of his record of falling waiting lists and a recovering NHS. He is not planning to say anything following his meeting with the Prime Minister that might distract from the King’s Speech.”
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The Health Secretary failed to comment to journalists as he left Downing Street on Wednesday morning after talks billed as a chance to raise serious concerns about the direction of the party by his camp.
Labour’s warring factions had been expected to lay down their arms ahead of the King’s Speech today for fear of embarrassing the monarch with political infighting. But tensions threaten to erupt again once the pomp-filled ceremony ends.
If Mr Streeting does challenge the Prime Minister, other senior figures in the party, including ex-Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, could seek to enter the contest. Ms Rayner, who has long been touted as a successor, appeared to have put her own ambitions on ice as she called for the path to be cleared for Andy Burnham to return to Westminster.
But she could step forward if Mr Streeting tried to force a rapid succession before the Greater Manchester Mayor can return to Parliament, the Mirror understands.
She has even thought about who could be in her top team. Mr Burnham’s allies have signalled he has his eyes on a Commons seat but the silence from his camp has triggered scepticism. This leaves Ms Rayner as one of the few viable candidates from the soft left flank of the Labour Party to take on Mr Streeting.
Earlier, Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds claimed Mr Streeting and the PM were simply “having a coffee”, adding: “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.”
Mr Thomas-Symonds, a staunch ally of the PM, admitted things had been “turbulent” but said things were moving on as MPs had not united behind a successor. But in a significant blow to the PM’s authority, Labour’s union backers called for a plan to replace him before the next election.
The TULO group, which represents 11 affiliated unions including Unite, GMB and Unison, said Labour “cannot continue on its current path”. He said: “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.”
