LONDON — Former British health minister Wes Streeting said on Wednesday that he was prepared to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the leadership of the governing Labour Party as early as next week, intensifying pressure on a prime minister facing growing unrest within his party.
Streeting, who resigned from the cabinet last month and has since positioned himself as a potential successor to Starmer, said he believed he had sufficient support among Labour lawmakers to trigger a leadership contest. Speaking to reporters and supporters in London, Streeting argued that the party needed clarity over its future leadership and said prolonged uncertainty would be damaging.
“We need to end the uncertainty and paralysis,” Streeting said, according to Reuters. He urged Starmer to decide over the coming days whether to remain in office or step aside voluntarily.
Starmer, speaking from the Group of Seven summit in France, rejected calls for his resignation and said he would contest any attempt to remove him. “I will fight if there’s a challenge,” the prime minister said, according to British media reports. He added that a leadership contest would distract the government from its policy agenda.
The latest developments follow weeks of speculation about Starmer’s future after disappointing election results and internal criticism over government policy. Streeting resigned as health secretary in May, saying Labour needed a broader debate about its direction and leadership. At the time, he said he would stand in any leadership contest that emerged.
The leadership question has also become intertwined with a parliamentary by-election in Makerfield, where Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is seeking a return to Westminster. Political observers have identified Burnham as another potential contender should a leadership race begin. Starmer on Wednesday described Burnham as a “huge asset” to Labour and indicated he could be considered for a cabinet role.
Streeting outlined elements of his political vision in a speech earlier this week, calling for what he described as “progressive capitalism” and emphasizing economic growth, competition and fiscal discipline. He also argued that Labour should be willing to revisit long-standing policy assumptions in order to broaden its electoral appeal.
Supporters of Starmer have questioned whether Streeting has the backing required to mount a formal challenge, while some Labour lawmakers have warned that a leadership contest could deepen divisions within the party. Details of the level of support for either side remain unclear.
As of Wednesday evening, no formal leadership contest had been launched. Labour officials had not announced any timetable for a challenge, and Starmer continued to insist that he intended to remain party leader and prime minister.
