Wes Streeting has told Keir Starmer he’s ready to be the next Prime Mi | Politics | News
Wes Streeting has told Sir Keir Starmer he is ready to become the next Prime Minister. The Health Minister is set to launch a leadership campaign if Sir Keir is sacked this week, amid growing speculation that the Prime Minister will be forced to resign.
Mr Streeting is understood to have told No 10 that he was not planning to challenge Sir Keir directly but was preparing a “case” for a leadership challenge in case “everything falls apart” and the contest is triggered by another candidate. The Prime Minister is facing calls for more than 40 of his own MPs to quit following Labor’s disastrous results in this week’s local elections.
Former minister Catherine West threatened to launch a leadership challenge on Monday unless the Cabinet ousts her.
Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner is also thought to be planning to run if a contest emerges, but she is not expected to challenge Sir Keir anytime soon.
An ally of Mr Streeting told The Telegraph: “Wes has made it clear to No10 that he will not be challenging Keir, but he is building a case if all goes well.
“Like much of the party, he thinks Keir has the chance to determine how to turn things around this week. He’s not making plans.”
If Mr Streeting launches a leadership campaign, it is understood he will claim he is the only candidate who can beat Reform UK after Labour’s hold on Redbridge, his local council in East London, this week.
He believes Ms Rayner is now more vulnerable to Reformation because Tameside council, which includes part of her constituency in Greater Manchester, has fallen to Nigel Farage’s party.
The Ally said: “He has shown this week that he can win. The results at Redbridge show Wes can beat opponents on both the Left and the Right.
“If there is a contest, Labor’s next leader must be someone who can keep Farage out of No 10.”
Mr Streeting is waiting to hear Labor MPs’ reaction to Sir Keir’s “reset” speech on Monday before deciding his next steps.
Downing Street sources said Sir Keir will use the speech to set out his plan to restore confidence in the Government ahead of the King’s Speech on Wednesday.
The speech is expected to touch on the disastrous local election results, promise new opportunities for young people and lay out plans for a closer relationship with the EU.
