The Health Secretary Wes Streeting has resigned from the Government and will almost certainly now trigger a leadership contest against Kier Starmer
In his resignation letter he writes
“Serving as your Secretary o f State for Health and Social Care has been the greatest joy of my life and, regardless of our differences this week, I remain truly grateful to you for the
opportunity to serve and I am deeply saddened to be leaving government in this way.”
However he added
“It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election and thatLabour MPs and Labour Unions want the debate about what comes next to be a battle of ideas, not of personalities or petty factionalism. It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates. I support that approach and I hope that you will facilitate this.
Speaking to Beth Rigby of Sky News an ally of Streeting said
“Wes has numbers but taken decision not to trigger challenge/immediate contest as clear that wouldn’t be right thing for party. Keir needs to set out a timetable and allow widest possible contest. It’s the only way to rebuild from this mess.”
Earlier The Chancellor Rachel Reeves warned that a Labour leadership election would ‘plunge the country into chaos’.
