Keir Starmer ‘will eventually implode’ – Wes Streeting wants PM job | Politics | News
Over the last 48 hours, Wes Streeting’s team have denied he is after Sir Keir Starmer’s job, but if the under-fire Prime Minister “eventually explodes” there is something the Health Secretary should avoid doing. The whispered Labor “deal” between Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner could be one route Mr Streeting must avoid if he wants to seize power, according to columnist and former Tory minister Michael Gove’s ex-wife Sarah Vine.
Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Ms Vine speaks to the love we all have for a power couple, creating the so-called “Wangela” combination of Mr Streeting and Ms Rayner, citing blockbuster examples such as Bennifer (Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez) and Brangelina (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie). But addressing the possibility of Mr Streeting taking over the reins at No 10, Ms Vine offers the political usurper some advice on something to avoid.
Ms. Vine writes history shows supercouples “don’t always have happy endings”, adding: “That’s why I have my doubts about the latest political portmanteau to be touted in the corridors of Westminster: ‘Wangela’, aka Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner.”
He explained: “The idea of the Health Secretary getting into bed with the disgraced former deputy prime minister in a bid to bring down the flailing Prime Minister is a complete non-starter – and not just because Mr Streeting isn’t that kind of man.”
“For a start, the two are at opposite ends of the Labor Party spectrum, with Streeting on the right of the party while Rayner is a proponent of the far left.”
The columnist said it would be “a particularly bad idea at this stage of his career” for Mr Streeting to enter into such a deal, given that unlike Ms Rayner he had “everything to lose”.
Complementing her assessment that Mr Streeting should avoid any deal with the former Deputy Prime Minister, Ms Vine wrote: “Starmer will explode eventually” and added that when that happens “Streeting will be a very serious candidate”.
Responding to reports in the Telegraph that he and Ms Rayner were involved in a deal to replace Sir Keir, a spokesman for Mr Streeting said: “This is a silly season story and completely untrue. People seem to be getting carried away and misinterpret his support for Angela as anything other than supporting a good person going through a difficult time.”
Asked to respond to claims that the deal would allow her to take “any post she wants in the cabinet”, a source close to Ms Rayner said: “There are no vacancies and there is no deal.
“Amidst all the exciting and silly games, Angela remains focused on representing her constituents and delivering what this Government wants. Angela is made of tough stuff and will not be played like a pawn.”
