Streeting resigns as UK Health Secretary, withdrawing support for Starmer
The Health Secretary’s resignation follows poor local election results and concerns over the party’s ability to counter Reform UK, though his team denies plans for an immediate leadership challenge.
UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has resigned from the Labour government, submitting a two-page letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer in which he explicitly states he no longer supports the Prime Minister. The resignation follows recent local election results that have heightened concerns within the Labour Party regarding its ability to counter the Reform UK party. Streeting’s letter highlights Starmer’s perceived managerial style and specific policy missteps, including the winter fuel payment controversy and the "island of strangers" speech on migration. While reports suggested Streeting might launch a leadership challenge, his team denies this, and the letter implies he lacks the necessary 80-plus MP backing for an immediate contest. Instead, Streeting calls for a broad leadership contest to allow for a full field of candidates.
In a letter published by The Guardian, Streeting details his loss of confidence in Starmer’s leadership, citing the Prime Minister’s "congenitally incremental and managerial" approach as insufficient for the challenges ahead. The Health Secretary points to specific policy errors, including the backlash over limiting winter fuel payments and the "island of strangers" speech on migration, which he argues alienated voters and pushed them towards the Greens or Reform UK. Despite being a figure on the party’s right, Streeting condemns the migration rhetoric as counterproductive to Labour’s electoral prospects.
Streeting also uses the resignation letter to highlight his tenure’s achievements, noting that NHS England waiting lists have seen the biggest fall in 17 years, excluding the Covid period. This emphasis on tangible results appears intended to demonstrate his capability as a department head, even as he withdraws his support from the government’s top leadership. The letter serves as both a critique of Starmer’s current direction and a record of his own administrative performance.
The timing of the resignation coincides with deep anxiety within the Labour ranks following poor performance in local elections across England, Scotland, and Wales. Streeting’s letter reflects a broader fear among MPs that Starmer lacks a viable plan to counter the rise of Reform UK, with some colleagues worried that a change in leadership is necessary to prevent further electoral decline. However, the letter also suggests that Streeting does not currently have the 80-plus MP support required to trigger a formal leadership contest under party rules.
Consequently, Streeting has called for a "broad" leadership contest rather than an immediate challenge. This approach may allow other potential candidates, such as Andy Burnham, to enter the fray, potentially via a by-election if they can secure a seat. Streeting’s team has denied reports that he intends to launch an immediate leadership bid, suggesting instead that his move is an attempt to exit the current political situation with dignity while pushing for a more open selection process.