Starmer on brink as Streeting quits, criticising ‘drift’ at top of Government
Wes Streeting has quit as Health Secretary, calling for a leadership contest and plunging Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership into crisis.
Mr Streeting criticised the “drift” at the top of Government and told the Prime Minister it is “clear” he will not lead Labour into the next election.
While stopping short of announcing a bid for the top job, Mr Streeting urged Sir Keir to allow the “best possible field of candidates” to run to replace him in Downing Street, suggesting he could be in favour of including Andy Burnham.
The departure of the Cabinet big beast follows days of turmoil in which calls have mounted for the Prime Minister to step down in the wake of Labour’s election mauling last week.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said “I fundamentally disagree with the position he’s taken” as she suggested Mr Streeting’s resignation marked “a chance for us to pause, take a breath as a party and try and draw a line under all of this”.
In his resignation letter, Mr Streeting blamed the “unprecedented” election results in part on “the unpopularity of this Government”, adding: “There are many reasons we could point to: from individual mistakes on policy like the decision to cut the winter fuel allowance to the ‘island of strangers’ speech, all of which have left the country not knowing who we are or what we really stand for.”
Mr Streeting praised Sir Keir’s “many great strengths” and “courage and statesmanship on the world stage”, but continued: “Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift.
“This was underscored by your speech on Monday. Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords.
“You also need to listen to your colleagues, including backbenchers, and the heavy-handed approach to dissenting voices diminishes our politics.”
Mr Streeting said improvements in NHS waiting times could be one reason to “remain in post, but as you know from our conversation earlier this week, having lost confidence in your leadership, I have concluded that it would be dishonourable and unprincipled to do so”.
On a leadership transition, Mr Streeting’s letter read: “It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election and that Labour MPs and Labour unions want the debate about what comes next to be a battle of ideas, not of personalities or petty factionalism.
“It needs to be broad, and it needs to be the best possible field of candidates. I support that approach and I hope you will facilitate it.”
It was unclear whether Mr Streeting had the 81 Labour MPs needed to announce a formal challenge against the Prime Minister, with earlier briefings from rival factions claiming that he did not.
A Labour backbencher told the Press Association Mr Streeting’s letter “reads like he has no numbers” to make a leadership challenge himself, adding: “He’s screwed himself good and proper.”
Skills minister Baroness Jacqui Smith told the BBC she was “very sorry” Mr Streeting had resigned but “we don’t need a period of internal discussion and leadership contest”.
Mr Streeting’s move could precipitate a leadership contest in which Angela Rayner has also indicated she could run, with other possible contenders including Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, armed forces minister Al Carns and Mr Burnham.
The Greater Manchester Mayor would first need to find a seat and win a by-election, meaning his inclusion in a leadership race could stretch the timetable by months.
Former deputy prime minister Ms Rayner revealed on Thursday morning that she had been cleared by HMRC of deliberate wrongdoing over her tax affairs, clearing the path for a potential tilt at the top job.
While some 87 MPs have so far publicly called for Sir Keir’s resignation, they are not united behind a single candidate to replace him.
Published: by Radio NewsHub