UK Health Minister Wes Streeting Resigns, Calls for Leadership Contest to Oust PM Starmer

The move comes after disastrous results for Labour in last week’s local elections, which plunged the party into crisis. More than 90 of Starmer’s 403 MPs have called for his resignation, four junior ministers quit, and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood privately urged him to set a departure timetable.

Starmer’s Precarious Position

Despite the growing discontent, Starmer has so far resisted calls to step down. Labour ministers, MPs, and officials told POLITICO that his survival hinges on two factors: the party’s deep factional divisions and a reluctance to appear disloyal in front of the king. "Labour is so riven with rival factions that no one can muster enough allies to make a decisive move," one source said.

Streeting’s resignation fell short of triggering a formal leadership challenge, but it intensifies pressure on Starmer. "It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates," Streeting wrote, urging an open contest.

Calls for Change

Streeting, who was the first senior minister to resign amid the crisis, stated his decision was driven by the belief that Starmer would not lead Labour into the next general election. "After days of calls by a growing number of Labour lawmakers for Starmer to either resign or set out a timetable for his departure, Streeting was the first senior minister to break cover," a source noted.

The health minister’s departure follows a tumultuous week for Starmer, including a poorly received reset speech and mounting dissent within his party. Yet, no formal leadership challenge has materialized, with the most immediate threat failing to gain traction.

Political Fallout

The crisis underscores the fragility of Starmer’s leadership, despite his 2024 election victory on a pledge to end years of political chaos. Parliament is set to announce a year-long legislative plan for "my government," but as one observer noted, "There's one problem: he doesn't know who'll be leading it by Christmas."

Labour’s infighting and Streeting’s resignation have raised questions about the party’s ability to govern effectively. With no clear successor emerging, the coming weeks will test whether Starmer can regain control or if the pressure for his ouster becomes unstoppable.