Wes Streeting and Keir Starmer will hold crunch showdown meeting tomorrow over Labour’s week of ‘turbulence’… but will the health secretary use it to climb down over leadership bid?
Wes Streeting is preparing for showdown talks with Keir Starmer tomorrow.
The Minister of Health has made no secret that he is preparing for a leadership contest and that he has a shadow team.
But despite calls from many of his closest supporters for the Prime Minister to leave, he has also signaled that he does not want to use the knife.
The Ilford North MP, who was rejected when he tried to speak to the Prime Minister after Cabinet on Tuesday, was given a meeting set for the King ahead of the State Opening of Parliament this morning.
Allies said he was expected to discuss the ‘turbulence’ gripping the party and ask how the Prime Minister planned to ‘get us out of this mess’.
But tonight’s report suggests he could use the meeting to row behind Sir Keir, ending speculation about his ambition for now.
The Guardian reported that ‘very senior Labor Party sources’ suggested Mr Streeting would eventually ‘come down even if he speaks candidly about the issues’.
Sources added that he will continue his advice after the meeting to avoid diverting attention from the King’s Speech.
Wes Streeting is preparing for showdown talks with Keir Starmer tomorrow. Photographed leaving Number 10 Downing Street today
Mr Streeting, Catherine West and Keir Starmer pictured during their first appearance in the House of Commons in 2015
Sir Keir had refused to meet the Health Secretary today despite asking Cabinet members not to discuss his leadership at No 10 table and to speak to him individually later.
Mr Streeting was one of the last people to leave Downing Street, apparently waiting for a speaking opportunity that never came.
The resignations, which continue today, including from Mr Streeting’s allies, have led to further speculation about an impending leadership fight.
These included Housing Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, Home Affairs Minister Jess Phillips, Health Minister Zubir Ahmed and Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones.
Mr Streeting’s parliamentary private secretary and Government member Joe Morris resigned on Monday evening and called for the Prime Minister’s ‘swift’ departure; This is a scenario that will favor the Health Secretary as his rivals Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner have obstacles in their way.
Supporting MPs also called for the Prime Minister to leave; they include Labor Growth Group co-chairman Chris Curtis, Mr Streeting’s neighboring MP Jas Athwal and MP Alan Gemmell.
Mr Streeting’s team insisted MPs were demanding his resignation of their own accord and not at the Prime Minister’s urging.
As the number of MPs calling for the Prime Minister’s resignation grew, so did pressure on the Health Minister to launch a formal leadership contest.
Sir Keir and Mr Streeting were photographed during their visit to University College London Hospital in September 2024.
But Mr Streeting, who was first elected to Parliament alongside Sir Keir and former leadership rival Catherine West in 2015, faces a major challenge to get past Labor members who view him as a far-right extremist.
The party’s left-wing MPs, who support Mr Burnham, have also vowed to block any attempt to parachute Mr Streeting into No 10.
They said they would challenge Mr Streeting ‘at the first opportunity’ if he becomes prime minister.
A source accused him of trying to plant the lead and said he was ‘lucky to last longer than a lettuce’.
MPs in this camp have criticized Mr Streeting’s allies for calling for a ‘quick’ contest before the mayor of Manchester finds a seat.
“If Wes thinks he can pull some kind of stitch to avoid a fair process, he will have no legitimacy, even if he is in office for a short time,” the source said.
‘We will not support the Government in the House of Commons and will challenge it at the first opportunity.’
John McDonnell brands Mr Streeting ‘Mandelson protégé’ as Labor tensions escalate
Left winger Richard Burgon says Mr Streeting is staging a ‘palace coup’
Miatta Fahnbulleh joined the rebellion this morning and became the first minister to drop calls for Sir Keir to leave.
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But if Mr Streeting stands down and refuses to ask the Prime Minister to leave, he risks losing momentum and leaving his chief rival, Mr Burnham, with time to plot his way back to Westminster.
On Tuesday, Business Minister Peter Kyle said his friend Mr Streeting was not planning to launch a leadership contest anytime soon.
He said that the couple went to the cinema to watch the movie The Devil Wears Prada 2 before the local elections.
