Wes Streeting resigns as health secretary amid growing pressure on Starmer
UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has resigned from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government, saying he has lost confidence in Starmer’s leadership and no longer believes he is capable of leading the Labour Party into the next general election.
Streeting announced his resignation in a letter addressed to Starmer and later published online, delivering a major political blow to the prime minister as internal tensions within the Labour Party continue to escalate.
In the letter, Streeting sharply criticized Starmer’s leadership, writing: “Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift.”
While Streeting has not yet formally launched a leadership challenge, his resignation is expected to intensify speculation about a possible contest for Labour leadership.
He told Starmer in the letter that “it is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election,” signaling a direct loss of confidence from one of the government’s most senior ministers.
Streeting also suggested that the party should now prepare for an open leadership race focused on ideas and future direction.
“What comes next should be a battle of ideas,” he wrote. “It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates.”
The resignation comes at a critical moment for Starmer, who is reportedly fighting to maintain control of his government following significant election losses last week. The defeats have triggered growing unrest within Labour ranks, with some MPs increasingly questioning the prime minister’s leadership.
Under Labour Party rules, a formal leadership challenge requires substantial backing from Labour MPs before a contest can begin.
Sources now suggest Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner would be prepared to enter a leadership contest if one is triggered, potentially setting up a high-profile internal race.
Rayner has also recently been in the headlines after confirming she had resolved a tax issue involving a £40,000 stamp duty bill. She said she had been “cleared” by HMRC following the settlement.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Rachel Reeves publicly defended Starmer earlier in the day, warning that any leadership contest would destabilize the country.
Speaking to the BBC, Reeves said a contest would “plunge the country into chaos,” echoing arguments previously made by Starmer himself as speculation over his future intensified.
Streeting’s resignation is particularly significant because he has been widely viewed as one of Labour’s most prominent figures and a potential future leadership contender. His departure is likely to increase pressure on Starmer from both cabinet colleagues and backbench MPs.
Political analysts say the move could mark the beginning of a deeper crisis within Labour, especially if more senior ministers publicly withdraw support or if a formal leadership bid emerges in the coming days.
Starmer had earlier attempted to rally MPs and ministers by warning that internal instability could derail the government’s agenda and damage public confidence.
However, Streeting’s resignation now raises fresh doubts about whether the prime minister can maintain authority over his cabinet.
A Labour leadership contest, if triggered, would likely involve several rounds of MP voting before potentially moving to a wider party process depending on the number of candidates.
The political uncertainty comes as Labour seeks to recover from recent electoral setbacks and reset its agenda ahead of future national campaigns.
For now, Starmer remains prime minister, but Streeting’s resignation represents the most serious challenge to his authority since taking office.
