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Wes Streeting has indicated he is willing to initiate a Labour leadership contest to replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister, potentially as soon as next week. Speaking to BBC Newsnight, the former health secretary emphasized the need to address “uncertainty and paralysis” within the party’s leadership, particularly if Labour secures victory in Thursday’s Makerfield by-election.
Both Streeting and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham have expressed their intentions to stand in any leadership contest to succeed the prime minister. However, until recently, they have avoided stating whether they would actively trigger such a race. Sir Keir Starmer, meanwhile, reaffirmed at the G7 summit in France that he does not intend to step down and plans to continue fulfilling his elected mandate. Burnham is campaigning to regain a seat in Parliament through the Makerfield by-election, which, if successful, would enable him to initiate or participate in a leadership challenge—possibilities currently unavailable to him without being an MP.
In response to questions from BBC Newsnight’s Victoria Derbyshire about whether he would launch a leadership contest should Burnham win Makerfield, Streeting suggested allowing the prime minister time to reflect first: “I think the prime minister should be given some space and time to reflect over the weekend and I think we should see where we are then.” He added, “I would prefer the PM to take a decision on his own terms rather than leave it for me or Andy or anyone else to trigger a contest. If not we can’t carry on with this uncertainty and paralysis and there will need to be a contest and I would be prepared to do that.” Streeting also stated he has the support of the 81 Labour MPs necessary to launch a leadership bid.
At a separate event on Tuesday, Streeting emphasized that any Labour leadership contest should not focus on making expensive and popular promises purely to curry favour with party members at the expense of the British public. He stressed that he would avoid committing to pledges during a campaign that he might later have to reverse. Having resigned from government last month over what he described as the prime minister’s “drift” and lack of vision, Streeting laid out his vision for the economy in a lengthy speech, positioning himself as a fiscally responsible candidate who would stimulate growth while lowering taxes. Although polls suggest Burnham holds greater popularity among Labour members, and Streeting acknowledges he would be the “underdog,” he is keen to frame the upcoming contest as a “battle of ideas” over the party’s future. In a pointed critique of his rival’s stance, Streeting cautioned against dismissing financial markets, saying, “We must reject the reckless approach that says ‘stuff the bond markets’.”
Streeting also challenged Burnham’s recent assertion that northern England has been plagued by 40 years of “neoliberalism,” describing the situation as more complex. “We’ve been through several waves of change that have delivered genuine strengths, but also deep weaknesses,” he remarked. Highlighting fiscal responsibility, he referenced former chancellors Gordon Brown and Nigel Lawson, prompting speculation that he might be positioning himself as a potential chancellor should he not win the leadership. Nonetheless, Streeting insisted he can unite both the centre and left wings of the party and convince Labour members that he is best placed to win the next general election. If he assumes the prime ministership, he pledged to avoid calling an early election and to serve out the full parliamentary term.
In addition, the Ilford North MP reiterated his commitment to reducing employment taxes when fiscal conditions permit and restated his call to align capital gains tax rates with those of income tax. Taking a pragmatic stance on energy policy, Streeting suggested that Energy Secretary Ed Miliband should support North Sea oil and gas projects like Rosebank and Jackdaw. “There is a pragmatic case for producing our own gas rather than importing from abroad,” he said, referencing Miliband’s previous criticism of a Rosebank licence as “climate vandalism.
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