Streeting says he’ll stand in contest to replace UK PM

Former health secretary Wes Streeting said he would challenge British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in any leadership contest, just days after his resignation, and called on Starmer to set a timetable for his departure.

“We need a proper contest with the best candidates on the field and I will be standing,” Streeting told a conference of the Progress group, a group of Labor supporters who see themselves on the modernization wing of the party.

Addressing the group, Streeting described the UK’s decision to leave the European Union in a 2016 referendum as a “catastrophic mistake” that left the country at its weakest since before the Industrial Revolution.

He said Britain should try to rejoin the bloc.

“We need a new special relationship with the EU, because Britain’s future is in Europe and one day – one day – it will return to the European Union.” he said.

Starmer has opposed Britain leaving the EU but has refused to rejoin as prime minister or make major concessions in areas such as immigration, which the EU sees as necessary for much closer economic ties.

Late on Thursday, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said he was standing in a by-election in the newly vacated seat to return to parliament; this was a precondition for him to be able to challenge Starmer as prime minister.

Starmer has rejected calls to resign after his party suffered a heavy defeat in local elections across England last week.

Under Labor Party rules, each candidate must receive support from at least 20 per cent of the party’s parliamentary members to trigger a leadership election.