Starmer latest: Streeting ‘poised for leadership bid’ as key ministerial aides resign in call for PM to quit

The Prime Minister has vowed not to walk away but his speech on Monday did little to convince the skeptics of Labor MPs, more than 60 of whom called on him to step aside.

The Prime Minister has vowed to fight to keep his job, but the network is closing in on Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership and it looks like time is running out.

It is now becoming clear that Labor MPs have lost confidence in his leadership and are not at all convinced by his speech on Monday morning.

It now appears that Wes Streeting is about to launch a leadership bid. This will almost certainly be followed by Angela Rayner.

The conflict between left and right is about to escalate into full-blown civil war, with Sir Keir swept away.

Mr Streeting cannot wait because if he does, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham could return to parliament and be the obvious candidate to replace Starmer.

There appear to be few Starmer loyalists left after last week’s disastrous election results.

Streeting and Rayner both have the charisma that Starmer lacks.

The crucial moment may come at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning when ministers may tell him he must go.

All that mattered in this speech was to give the 81st Labor MP, who had been tempted to sign Catherine West’s nomination paper, a reason to back down. Having such a well-defined purpose meant it was a good speech by Keir Starmer’s standards because the content, delivery and staging were all aimed at a single goal.

This aim was to keep the number of MPs ready to support a rival below the 81 that would trigger a leadership election.

The content is geared to appeal to MPs caught between the horror of the status quo and the roughly equal horror of the chaos that change could unleash.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting is believed to be preparing to launch his leadership bid as scores of Labor MPs join demands for Sir Keir Starmer to step down as prime minister.

The heated speculation comes as a number of younger members of the government allied with Mr Streeting are expected to resign from their positions, with ministers expected to follow.

His “or last” speech in central London was met with applause from the audience in the hall but failed to sway angry backbenchers still reeling from last week’s historically poor election results.

More than 60 Labor MPs from all wings of the party called on the prime minister to leave immediately or set a timetable for his departure, and there was growing speculation that Mr Streeting was about to launch a coup.

A Labor MP has said he is resigning as parliamentary private secretary in the Cabinet Office, calling for “new leadership so we can rebuild trust and deliver the better future that British people voted for”.

Posting on X, Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan said: “The message from last week’s election was clear: the Prime Minister has lost the trust of the public.

“Since I was elected to serve the people of Gillingham and Rainham, I have and will always put the interests of my constituents and our country first. It is with this commitment in mind that I have taken the difficult decision to resign from my role as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Cabinet Office.

“Our country is facing unprecedented challenges. The people of Gillingham & Rainham and the country deserve leadership that can deliver results at scale. “I did not enter politics to stand by while we failed.

“We need a clear change of direction now and there is no need to play games. If we act now a Labor Government can and will rise to the moment.

“I’m calling for new leadership so we can rebuild trust and deliver the better future that the British people voted for.”

Joe Morris has resigned as ministerial assistant to Wes Streeting, widely seen as a potential leadership candidate, and called for Sir Keir Starmer to set a “quick timetable” for him to step aside.

In his message posted on social media, he wrote: “The message of last week’s elections was clear: the Prime Minister had lost the public’s trust.

“Local councilors who have served their communities for decades, first-time candidates and Labor members who campaigned on their behalf have ended up taking the blame for decisions that were not theirs.

“A reform government would destroy our public services and cripple our economy. It targets the voiceless and the most vulnerable while enriching the richest. Despite the Prime Minister’s best efforts, voters do not accept that he can lead the change they voted for.

“Whether in Northumberland or Newcastle, voters need a Labor government to reduce the cost of living, invest in our communities and infrastructure and deliver on the promises made at the general election.

“I have the utmost confidence in the Labor Party and our ability to get to this point, but unfortunately it is now clear that the Prime Minister does not have the trust and confidence to lead this change.

“It is in the interest of the country and the party for the Prime Minister to set a rapid timetable for the appointment of a new leader to regain public confidence and ensure that the government can deliver on its commitments.

“I was elected after 100 years of Tory MPs being complacent in our district. My first duty will always be to serve the communities in my constituency, from Gilsland to Walbottle and Kielder to Whittonstall. Only a strong Labor government, led by strong leadership, can deliver the change our communities deserve.”

Speculation is growing that Wes Streeting will attempt a coup against Keir Starmer after some of his allies quit the government and called for the Prime Minister to leave.

Mr Streeting’s camp remains silent but Labor sources say Independent The health minister is expected to launch his leadership bid on Tuesday.

It comes as parliamentary private secretary Joe Morris quits the government and other allies Sally Jamieson and Tom Rutland also step down from their junior positions and call for Sir Keir to leave.

The pressure on the embattled prime minister by Mr Streeting’s allies began at the weekend when former minister John Simons, on the party’s right, joined those on the left in demanding Sir Keir set a timetable for ending his premiership.

Following the prime minister’s make-or-break speech on Monday morning, another prominent Mr Street ally, Chris Curtis, chairman of the influential growth group, joined those demanding the prime minister leave.

Jamieson, Rutland and Morris followed; Streeting’s neighbor, Jas Athwal, also demanded he leave.

There had been speculation that he was considering Mr Streeting’s leadership bid since late last year, when Downing Street felt the need to brief against him.

But with more than 60 MPs from different wings of the party now calling for a leadership change, Sir Keir appears too weakened to resist the challenge.

In a statement published on social media, Tom Rutland said: “I am sorry to say that the Prime Minister must now set a timetable for his departure and the selection of a new leader to lead Labor and the country.

“Last week I saw brilliant councilors lose their seats through no fault of their own.

“Speaking repeatedly to voters on their doorsteps, I heard little distaste for local councilors or Labor, but the hostility towards the Prime Minister was clear from every voter who chose to vote for another party or was considering doing so.

“This reminds me of the reaction I got when I spoke to voters under a former leader.

“It is clear to me that the Prime Minister has lost his authority, not just within the Labor Party but across the country, and cannot regain that authority.

“This significantly hinders the Government’s ability to deliver the change that people voted for in the general election, the change that we need to deliver.

“We also have a generational responsibility to prevent Reformation hatred and divisiveness from taking over our great country.

“This is weighing heavily on me and we must all do what we can to prevent this from happening.

“I have no faith that the Prime Minister can meet this challenge.

“It is inappropriate to hold this view and continue to serve on the front bench, which is why I have resigned as parliamentary private secretary to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and will continue to represent my wonderful constituents in East Worthing and Shoreham from the backbenches.”

Changing a leader, especially in the Labor Party, is not easy and brings with it great dangers. But doing nothing also comes with a deadly cost, and if you need more evidence of that, talk to any Democrat, says Ayesha Hazarika. Read below.