Wes Streeting has told allies that he is preparing to resign and trigger a leadership contest as soon as tomorrow
According to the Times allies of Streeting who have spoken to him directly said that he has made clear that he is “going to go for it”. One said that he is likely to resign on Thursday and mount a formal challenge for the leadership
Earlier Streeting left Number 10 after his meeting with Sir Keir Starmer.
He was inside the building for less than 20 minutes. An ally of Wes Streeting – who came out publicly to call for Starmer to go – says Streeting has “blown it.”
Friends of Keir Starmer say he will stand against Wes Streeting in a leadership contest if the health secretary has the numbers to trigger one
Meanwhile in a statement issued this morning Labour’s affiliated unions have been clear that Labour cannot continue on its current path.
“Whilst we recognise progress has been made, such as aspects of the Employment Rights Act and the increase in the minimum wage, the results at the election last week were devastating. Labour is not doing enough to deliver the change that working people voted for at the General Election. Our focus is on the fundamental change of direction on economic policy and political strategy that unions have been clear is needed, and not on the personalities and unfolding political drama in Westminster.“
Four ministers resigned yesterday including safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, one of Streeting’s backers, and Dr Zubir Ahmed, a junior health minister and one of his closest confidantes
However 112 MPs signed a letter calling for Starmer to remain in office yesterday
Allies of Andy Burnham are concerned that his path to challenge Sir Keir Starmer could still be blocked, the Times reports this morning
Former health minister Zubir Ahmed, who resigned over Keir Starmer’s leadership yesterday, calls on cabinet ministers who have so far been silent on the PM to tell the public what they really think.
He says: “This is a moment for leadership and for everyone to articulate with honesty their opinion on the prime minister, and my opinion of the prime minister, unfortunately, is that he has irretrievably lost the confidence of the public and of the Parliamentary Labour Party.”
