Labour leadership contest looms as Streeting and Starmer clash

Health Secretary Wes Streeting is engaged in a direct standoff with Downing Street over a potential leadership challenge against Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Streeting has reportedly informed supporters that he has secured the backing of the 81 MPs necessary to trigger a formal contest under Labour Party rules. However, a source close to the health secretary indicated that while the numbers are present, the situation remains fluid with support shifting.

Despite claims of sufficient backing, Streeting is reportedly still hoping for a voluntary resignation from Starmer rather than forcing a direct leadership battle. Allies suggest that an increasing number of MPs are privately urging the prime minister to set out a departure timetable. This hope for an orderly exit contrasts sharply with the active efforts by Starmer’s camp to prevent a formal challenge from proceeding.

In response to the growing unrest, Starmer allies have launched a concerted campaign to persuade MPs to withdraw their support for Streeting. Chief Secretary Darren Jones reportedly spent six hours speaking with MPs considering backing the health secretary, successfully persuading several to remove their names from the list of backers. Starmer supporters allege that Streeting’s team has been contacting MPs who backed other candidates, incorrectly suggesting they could switch allegiances mid-process to artificially inflate the challenge’s numbers.

Cabinet ministers have firmly denied plans to ask Starmer to resign, accusing Streeting’s supporters of attempting to “brief resignations into existence”. This denial came after reports suggested a coordinated move by the cabinet to request the prime minister’s departure on Thursday afternoon. The friction highlights the deep internal divisions within the party, with some outlets describing the environment as a bitter factional struggle and a scramble on the left.

Complicating the political landscape, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has been cleared by HMRC over her tax affairs. This clearance removes a potential barrier, allowing Rayner to enter the leadership contest if Streeting proceeds with his challenge. Rayner had previously indicated she would enter the race should Streeting move against the prime minister, positioning her as a significant figure in any resulting leadership election.