Wes Streeting resigns as Health Secretary, paving way for potential leadership challenge
In his resignation letter to Sir Keir Starmer, Wes Streeting said “it is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election”
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Health Secretary Wes Streeting has stepped down, paving the way for a potential bid for leadership of the Labour Party.
In his resignation letter to Sir Keir Starmer, Wes Streeting said “it is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election”, adding “where we need vision, we have a vacuum”.
His 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.”
Mr Streeting’s resignation 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.
It could be the start of 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 Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.