THE GUARDIAN: Streeting, who is on the party’s right, had long been rumoured to be gathering support for tilt at leadership
Wes Streeting has quit as health secretary and called on Keir Starmer to resign as prime minister, saying it would have been “dishonourable” to remain in post and that there should now be a contest for the Labour leadership.
But Streeting, who is on the party’s right, will not immediately launch a challenge and said he wanted to see a leadership contest with a broad range of candidates – a suggestion that the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, could fight in the contest.
Streeting had long been gathering support for a challenge and has spent the week asking MPs to nominate him. Allies have consistently said he did not want to challenge Starmer directly but hoped to be a candidate in a leadership contest if Starmer resigned.
The fact he is not challenging Starmer immediately suggests he does not have the requisite 81 MPs to mount a challenge directly.
A challenge would be likely to prompt bids from other potential candidates including the former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband, the energy secretary. » | Jessica Elgot | Deputy political editor | Thursday, May 14, 2026
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