James Murray, the former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has been appointed Health Secretary following Wes Streeting’s resignation, Downing Street said.
Mr Streeting resigned from the role on Thursday, saying he had “concluded that it would be dishonourable and unprincipled” to continue in the Cabinet under Sir Keir Starmer.
He added that there was a “drift” at the top of government and told the Prime Minister it is “clear” he will not lead Labour into the next election.
Streeting congratulated the new Health Secretary in a post on X.
He wrote: “Congratulations to @jamesmurray_ldn on his promotion to Health & Social Care Secretary.
“He inherits a wonderful team and an important mission. He has my full support.”
It follows days of turmoil in which calls have mounted for the Prime Minister to step down in the wake of Labour’s local election mauling last week.
In Mr Streeting’s resignation letter, Mr Streeting blamed the “unprecedented” locelection results in part on “the unpopularity of this Government”, adding: “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.”
He praised Sir Keir’s “many great strengths” and “courage and statesmanship on the world stage”, but continued: “Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. 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.”
In a letter accepting Mr Streeting’s resignation, the Prime Minister said he hoped the two “can work together to show that Labour in power can address the problems our opponents exploit”.
Mr Streeting stopped short of announcing a bid for the top job as he resigned but urged Sir Keir to allow the “best possible field of candidates” to run to replace him in Number 10.
His move could precipitate 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 Andy Burnham.
Mr Burnham has said he will ask to stand for Labour in a by-election after an MP quit to make way for the Greater Manchester Mayor to return to Parliament to challenge Sir Keir Starmer.
He said he wanted to return to Westminster to “bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people”.
It comes after Josh Simons, Labour MP for Makerfield, said he would stand down so Mr Burnham can “drive the change our country is crying out for”.
