Governance

UK: Health Secretary Wes Streeting Resigns

Is Streeting Labour's boldest hope for revival or a liability destined to destroy the party?

Published MAY 14

UK: Health Secretary Wes Streeting Resigns

Story

Above: Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting in London on May 13. Image credit: Thomas Krych/Anadolu/Getty Images

The Facts

U.K. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has resigned, stating in his resignation letter that he had "lost confidence" in Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership and that it would be "dishonourable and unprincipled" to remain in government. Starmer later on Thursday appointed former Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray as his replacement.
GB News
BBC News
Wes Streeting on X
Reuters
While stating the prime minister has "great strengths," Streeting's resignation letter claims "where we need vision, we have vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift," before alleging the prime minister's "heavy-handed approach to dissenting voices diminishes our politics."
Steven Swinford on X
Wes Streeting on X
Streeting met with Starmer on Wednesday in a 16-minute one-on-one meeting at Downing Street, with no advisers present, ahead of the King's Speech. He left without commenting to waiting reporters.
The Telegraph
LBC
In his resignation letter, Streeting did not formally announce a leadership bid, instead stating that Labour lawmakers and unions "want the debate about what comes next to be a battle of ideas" and calling for a broad contest with the "best possible field of candidates."
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This comes as former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner announced earlier the same day that she had been cleared of a tax investigation, stating she would "play [her] part" in delivering change for the country, while Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, Labour's most popular politician in polling, seeks a by-election to enter Westminster.
Angela Rayner on X
Guardian
The Times (UK)
Independent
YouGov
Under Labour Party rules, a leadership challenge requires public backing from at least 20% of Members of Parliament, currently equating to 81. Starmer sources claim Streeting does not have the required numbers, though Streeting supporters deny this.
World Socialist Web Site
The Telegraph
BBC News

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Streeting is a self-made politician who rose from a council flat in Stepney to the Cabinet, representing a Blairite alternative with real governing experience. Time and time again, Labour's choice of a socialist leader has led to electoral annihilation, leaving Streeting — also the party's best communicator — as the sensible choice if the party wants to implement credible governance.

The Standard

The Times (UK)

Narrative B

Wes Streeting is bought and paid for by private health care interests, with over £372,000 in donations from private health companies, while he champions privatizing NHS services. Polling shows a Streeting-led Labour would be obliterated on a national level, with the majority of Brits who've heard of him actively disliking him. Streeting is Labour in name only — he is not the person to fix Britain.

Canary