Wes Streeting has resigned as Health Secretary, dealing a serious blow to Sir Keir Starmer as Labour’s internal revolt pushes the Prime Minister closer to a possible leadership battle.
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In a strongly worded resignation letter, Streeting criticised what he called “drift” at the top of government and told Starmer it was now “clear” he would not lead Labour into the next general election.
His departure comes after days of pressure on the Prime Minister following Labour’s poor local election results. In recent days, nearly 100 Labour MPs have called for Starmer to resign, while four ministers quit earlier in the week. Streeting’s resignation brings the number of ministerial departures in the latest crisis to at least five.
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Streeting’s letter was a direct attack on Starmer’s leadership. He criticised the Prime Minister over the cut to the winter fuel allowance, his controversial migration speech in which he described Britain as an “island of strangers”, and what he saw as a failure to take personal responsibility for mistakes.
But Streeting stopped short of launching his own leadership challenge. Instead, he called for the “best possible field of candidates” to come forward and said the debate over Labour’s future should be based on ideas, not factional battles.
“It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election,” Streeting said. He added that Labour MPs and affiliated trade unions wanted the next stage to be “a battle of ideas, not of personalities or petty factionalism”.
His resignation could mark the starting point for a wider contest over Labour’s future. Ed Miliband, Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham are among the names being discussed as possible figures in any leadership race. Burnham remains a major force in Labour politics, although he is not currently an MP, making any route to the leadership more difficult.
Sources close to Streeting have already begun briefing that he would be the strongest candidate to become the next Prime Minister. Starmer’s allies reject that claim and insist the former Health Secretary does not have the number of MPs needed to force a contest. Streeting’s team, however, believes he has support but does not want to trigger a leadership election yet.
Downing Street has repeated that Starmer will fight any formal challenge. The Prime Minister’s supporters say he will not resign and will battle any rival who tries to remove him from No 10.
Angela Rayner’s position is also being watched closely after she said she had settled £40,000 in unpaid stamp duty following a tax investigation. Her allies believe the issue has now been dealt with, potentially clearing the way for her to launch her own leadership bid if Starmer’s position collapses.
The Conservatives have seized on Labour’s turmoil. Kemi Badenoch argued that Starmer’s authority had gone after nearly 100 Labour MPs called for him to quit and several ministers walked away from government.
“It is clear Starmer’s authority has gone and that he will not be able to deliver what little there is in this King’s Speech,” Badenoch said. “This is a government less than two years in office which has already run out of ideas and run out of road. Britain deserves better.”
The latest resignations add to a wider pattern of instability. At least 18 ministers have now left Starmer’s government since Labour came to power in 2024, including the latest departures.
For Starmer, the danger is no longer limited to backbench anger. Streeting’s exit has taken the rebellion to the heart of government and turned private frustration into open confrontation.
Labour now faces a defining choice: stand behind Starmer and try to rebuild his authority, or move towards a contest that could reshape the party before the next election.
Until Labour decides whether to defend its Prime Minister or replace him, Starmer’s authority will remain under siege.
