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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet with Health Secretary Wes Streeting on Wednesday morning amid escalating tensions within the Labour Party, where a significant faction of MPs is pushing for his removal from leadership. This meeting gains added significance as Streeting has been identified as a potential contender to replace Starmer. The political unrest follows the resignation of four ministers, including Jess Phillips, a vocal safeguarding minister who stepped down in protest, and Zubir Ahmed, an ally of Streeting.
The call for Starmer to resign has been echoed by over 80 Labour MPs, revealing deep-rooted divisions concerning his position at the helm of the party. Despite the mounting pressure, Starmer remains defiant and has reaffirmed his commitment to continue governing. His stance is supported by more than 100 MPs and key members of his cabinet who caution against initiating a leadership contest at this critical juncture. Nevertheless, the prime minister’s grip on power appears weakened following disappointing election outcomes last week.
Ahead of the upcoming parliamentary session kicked off by the King’s Speech, Starmer’s scheduled meeting with Streeting takes place in Number 10 Downing Street. It is understood that Streeting will avoid making remarks that could detract from the significance of the speech. Starmer has maintained that no formal leadership challenge has been launched, noting that such a contest requires either the leader’s resignation or a challenge backed by at least 20% of Labour MPs — a pool of 81 supporters to unseat an incumbent leader. While Streeting is reportedly seeking sufficient backing, Starmer’s supporters believe the health secretary will fall short of this threshold.
The resignations of prominent ministers, including Phillips, who criticized the lack of tangible progress under Starmer’s leadership, have underscored the internal turmoil. In her resignation letter, Phillips acknowledged Starmer’s good intentions but emphasized the need for decisive action rather than mere rhetoric. Other ministers such as Miatta Fahnbulleh and Alex Davies-Jones have also stepped down, urging Starmer to set a clear timetable for an orderly transition. Replacements have been appointed to fill these vacancies as the party continues to grapple with its leadership crisis. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has publicly expressed full support for Starmer, urging critics to reconsider and question who might present a better alternative
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