Starmer latest: Streeting’s scathing resignation letter to PM fires starting gun on leadership race – UK Times

Wes Streeting has resigned as health secretary after stating he has “lost confidence” in Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.

It is widely expected that Mr Streeting will now mount a leadership challenge against the prime minister.

In his resignation letter, the former health secretary accused Sir Keir of creating a “vacuum” where the country needed a “vision” and urged him to “listen to your colleagues”. Downing Street has said Sir Keir has vowed to “fight on” despite suggestions of an imminent challenge to his leadership.

You can read the full letter below:

Wes Streeting also used his resignation letter to lay the blame for Labour’s dismal local election performance at the prime minister’s feet.

“There is no doubt that the unpopularity of this government was a major and common factor in our defeats across England, Scotland and Wales,” he wrote.

“Good Labour people lost through no fault of their own. 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.

“Last week’s election results were unprecedented – both in terms of the scale of the defeat and the consequences of that failure. For the first time in our country’s history, nationalists are in power in every corner of the United Kingdom – including a dangerous English nationalism represented by Nigel Farage and Reform UK. This represents both an existential threat to the future integrity of the United Kingdom, but Reform UK also represent a threat to the values and ideals that have made this country great.”

In his resignation letter Wes Streeting has said the government has “drift” where it needs “direction”.

“Where we need vision, we have a vacuum,” he wrote. “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.”

The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:

After much toing and froing – and rumours that he had bottled it – Wes Streeting has finally fired the starting gun of a leadership race, announcing his resignation as health secretary.

His decision to quit suggests that he has got enough support (the required backing of 81 MPs) to trigger a leadership race. But the letter itself doesn’t officially trigger a contest, nor does it explicitly say whether he has enough backing.

In the wake of his excoriating letter, all eyes will now be on Streeting to see whether he announces an official challenge to the prime minister.

But even then, all is not lost for Starmer – as just hours before Streeting’s resignation fresh polling of Labour members was published which suggested that the beleaguered PM would win a landslide victory against his former health secretary. It was only against Angela Rayner, Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband that the prime minister would lose, the polling showed.

Wes Streeting has resigned as health secretary.

It comes amid mounting speculation Mr Streeting is set to launch a leadership challenge against the prime minister.

Sir Keir Starmer stated on Wednesday that he retained “full confidence” in Mr Streeting.

But the prime minister must now face the growing threat of a leadership challenge from a man who has been a key member of his Cabinet.

Downing Street declined to comment on Angela Rayner’s announcement she has been cleared by HMRC, despite Sir Keir Starmer previously suggesting there was a path back to government for her if she were exonerated.

Asked whether there was a route back for her or whether there were still question marks over her underpayment of stamp duty, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “I think you’re asking about hypothetical Cabinet change, which I’m not going to engage in.”

He added: “It’s not for me to comment on an individual’s tax affairs, and as I say, she’s addressed quite a lot about herself this morning.”

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

Sir Keir Starmer is “getting on with the business of delivering change” in the face of talks of a leadership coup in his cabinet.

Downing Street insisted the prime minister “purely focused on governing” amid rumours Wes Streeting is to launch a challenge as early as today.

His former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner also appeared to pave the way for a potential bid today, as she confirmed she had been cleared of deliberate wrongdoing following an investigation into her tax affairs.

The prime minister’s spokesman declined to comment on the announcement, and when asked whether it marked a route back to government for Ms Rayner said: “I think you’re asking about hypothetical cabinet change, which I’m not going to engage in.”

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:

With the steam appearing to go out of a potential leadership bid by health secretary Wes Streeting this morning, supporters of the Greater Manchester mayor are laying the groundwork for his return.

Supporters have been briefed to emphasise the need for “a dignified transition” for Keir Starmer and for a replacement to be announced at the party conference in late September.

This would give Mr Burnham more than enough time to find a seat to stand and get back in parliament to contest the leadership contest.

It is understood that a seat has been agreed in principle where Labour are projected to see off both the Greens and Reform.

The briefing also reflects a growing feeling that Sir Keir should not be humiliated by this process and just ousted quickly.

A slow “orderly transition” allows him time to build his own legacy.

Housing secretary Steve Reed has arrived at Downing Street this afternoon.

He ignored questions from reporters as he entered No 10.

It has been a morning of swirling speculation in Westminster, but very little concrete has actually emerged.

Here’s where we stand this lunchtime:

• Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to “fight on” and will contest any leadership challenge, Downing Street said this afternoon

• Wes Streeting, who was widely expected to launch a leadership bid this morning, has remained silent as allies say the situation is “shifting” but insist he has the numbers

• Angela Rayner says she has been exonerated of any wrongdoing over her tax affairs following an investigation by HMRC, paving her way to mount a leadership challenge – although she told the Guardian she would not trigger one herself

• The prime minister has said he still has full confidence in Mr Streeting in his role as health secretary

• It has been reported that senior Cabinet ministers are planning to meet the prime minister and urge him to resign this afternoon, but the reports have been denied by allies of Mr Streeting and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham