James Murray: New Health Secretary named after Streeting resignation sparks potential Labour leadership contest
Former Under-Secretary to the Treasury James Murray has been appointed as Health Secretary following the resignation of Wes Streeting, Downing Street said.
Mr Streeting resigned from his post on Thursday, saying he had “concluded that it would be dishonorable and unprincipled” to remain in the Cabinet under Sir Keir Starmer.
He added that there was “drift” at the top of the government and told the Prime Minister it was “clear” he would not lead Labor at the next election.
Mr Streeting congratulated the new Health Secretary in a post on X.
He wrote: “Congratulations to @jamesmurray_ldn on his promotion to Health and Social Care Secretary.
“He inherited a great team and an important mission. He has my full support.”
Downing Street announced in a statement that Lucy Rigby will take over Mr Murray’s former role as Under-Secretary to the Treasury, and Rachel Blake will replace her as Economics Secretary at the Treasury.
This follows days of growing calls for the Prime Minister to resign following Labour’s defeat in last week’s local elections.
In his resignation letter, Mr Streeting partly blamed the “unprecedented” local election results on “the unpopularity of the Government”, adding: “There are many reasons we can point out: from individual mistakes in policy such as the decision to cut the winter fuel allowance to the ‘strangers island’ talk, 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 his “courage and statesmanship on the world stage”, but continued: “There is a gap where we need vision. Where we need direction we are adrift.”
“This was underlined in your speech on Monday. Leaders take responsibility, but often that means other people fall on their swords.
“You must also listen to your colleagues, including those in the background, and a harsh approach to dissenting voices undermines our policy.”
In a letter accepting Mr Streeting’s resignation, the Prime Minister said he hoped the pair could “work together to show that the ruling Labor Party can solve the problems our rivals are exploiting”.
Mr Streeting refrained from announcing his bid for the senior position as he resigned but called on Sir Keir to allow the “best possible group of candidates” to replace him at No 10.
His move could precipitate a leadership contest in which Angela Rayner has indicated she could run alongside other possible candidates including Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Armed Forces Secretary Al Carns and Andy Burnham.
Mr Burnham said he would seek to stand as a Labor candidate in a by-election after an MP resigned to make way for the Mayor of Greater Manchester to return to Parliament to challenge Sir Keir Starmer.
He said he wanted to return to Westminster to “bring the change we brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people”.
It comes after Josh Simons, the Labor MP for Makerfield, said he would stand down so Mr Burnham can “initiate the change our country has been crying out for”.
