U.K. Minister resigns, paving way for potential Labour leadership contest

U.K. Minister resigns, paving way for potential Labour leadership contest

A competition to oust British Prime Minister Keir Starmer from No. 10 Downing Street drew closer on Thursday, with U.K. Health Secretary Wes Streeting — seen for months as a potential contender — resigning, citing recent election losses for Labour and Mr. Starmer’s leadership style.

Another potential contender for the top job, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said he would ask Labour’s permission to contest a byelection, allowing him a path to the U.K.’s Parliament and a chance to run against Mr. Starmer.

The Health Secretary said he had surpassed targets set by Mr. Starmer for cutting National Health Service (NHS) waiting lists for medical appointments — a key voter concern.

Despite this, Mr. Streeting said he had chosen to resign “having lost confidence” in the Prime Minister’s leadership. He warned of the growing dangers of nationalism, racism and the hard-right Reform UK party. Mr. Starmer too has warned of these, but as for reasons to not plunge the country into “chaos” by having a leadership contest.

Mr. Burnham will seek to replace Josh Simons, a Labour MP who is vacating his seat to trigger a byelection that the popular Manchester mayor can contest. “I can confirm that I will be requesting the permission of the NEC to stand in the Makerfield by-election,” Mr. Burnham said on X.

It is far from certain that Mr. Burnham could win the byelection for the constituency, which is in the North West region of England. While Labour beat Reform by 5,399 votes in the 2024 general election for that seat, it did badly in the area in last week’s local elections.

A total of 81 MPs is required to officially request a leadership contest. Though over 90 MPs have wanted Mr. Starmer to go following Labour’s losses in council and regional elections last week, a sufficient number of lawmakers has not coalesced behind any one contender.

Vow to fight

Mr. Starmer has in recent days vowed to fight back in any contest for his post. The National Executive Committee would decide the timing of any competition for the Prime Minister’s job.

“It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election,” Mr. Streeting wrote in his letter dated May 14, adding that Labour MPs and workers’ unions associated with Labour wanted a debate on what comes next based on ideas not personalities.

Support for Mr. Streeting was lower than that for Mr. Starmer as per LabourList, which describes itself as a think-tank that supports the Labour Party but is independent of it. According to the poll, Mr. Streeting would secure 23% of support among Labour members, compared with Mr. Starmer’s 53%.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Rayner announced on Thursday that she had been exonerated by the tax authorities of wrongdoing and settled her tax bill — the issue over which she had resigned in 2025. Earlier, she had told The Guardian that she would not trigger a leadership contest, although she did not rule out contesting in one.