Starmer latest: Streeting’s scathing resignation letter to PM fires starting gun on leadership race

Green leader Zack Polanski said Wes Streeting would be “more of the same, but even worse, a factional and divisive politician” and pointed to the former health secretary’s past association with Lord Peter Mandelson.

“If Labour thinks Wes Streeting is the answer, they obviously don’t know the question the country is asking,” he said.

“Last week’s elections show the country is crying out for a break from the failed status quo. Keir Starmer has been unable and unwilling to break with an economic model that has fuelled the affordability crisis, and this is why we have said he must go.

“Wes Streeting would be more of the same, but even worse, a factional and divisive politician, a close ally of Peter Mandelson, who favours an economy even more tilted to the wealthy, and whose record as health secretary is more privatisation and more personal donations from private healthcare.

“The Labour Government is failing and is not strong enough to stand up to the greatest threat facing this country, that of a Nigel Farage government.

“Labour needs to stop trying to mimic them and join the Greens in taking the divisive politics of Reform head on.”

Wes Streeting has resigned as health secretary after stating he has “lost confidence” in Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.

It is widely expected that Mr Streeting will now mount a leadership challenge against the prime minister.

In his resignation letter, the former health secretary accused Sir Keir of creating a “vacuum” where the country needed a “vision” and urged him to “listen to your colleagues”. Downing Street has said Sir Keir has vowed to “fight on” despite suggestions of an imminent challenge to his leadership.

You can read the full letter below:

Wes Streeting also used his resignation letter to lay the blame for Labour’s dismal local election performance at the prime minister’s feet.

“There is no doubt that the unpopularity of this government was a major and common factor in our defeats across England, Scotland and Wales,” he wrote.

“Good Labour people lost through no fault of their own. There are many reasons we could point to: from individual mistakes on policy like the decision to cut the winter fuel allowance to the ‘island of strangers’ speech, all of which have left the country not knowing who we are or what we really stand for.

“Last week’s election results were unprecedented – both in terms of the scale of the defeat and the consequences of that failure. For the first time in our country’s history, nationalists are in power in every corner of the United Kingdom – including a dangerous English nationalism represented by Nigel Farage and Reform UK. This represents both an existential threat to the future integrity of the United Kingdom, but Reform UK also represent a threat to the values and ideals that have made this country great.”

In his resignation letter Wes Streeting has said the government has “drift” where it needs “direction”.

“Where we need vision, we have a vacuum,” he wrote. “Where we need direction, we have drift. This was underscored by your speech on Monday.

“Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords. You also need to listen to your colleagues, including backbenchers, and the heavy-handed approach to dissenting voices diminishes our politics.”

The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:

After much toing and froing – and rumours that he had bottled it – Wes Streeting has finally fired the starting gun of a leadership race, announcing his resignation as health secretary.

His decision to quit suggests that he has got enough support (the required backing of 81 MPs) to trigger a leadership race. But the letter itself doesn’t officially trigger a contest, nor does it explicitly say whether he has enough backing.

In the wake of his excoriating letter, all eyes will now be on Streeting to see whether he announces an official challenge to the prime minister.

But even then, all is not lost for Starmer – as just hours before Streeting’s resignation fresh polling of Labour members was published which suggested that the beleaguered PM would win a landslide victory against his former health secretary. It was only against Angela Rayner, Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband that the prime minister would lose, the polling showed.

Wes Streeting has resigned as health secretary.

It comes amid mounting speculation Mr Streeting is set to launch a leadership challenge against the prime minister.

Sir Keir Starmer stated on Wednesday that he retained “full confidence” in Mr Streeting.

But the prime minister must now face the growing threat of a leadership challenge from a man who has been a key member of his Cabinet.

Downing Street declined to comment on Angela Rayner’s announcement she has been cleared by HMRC, despite Sir Keir Starmer previously suggesting there was a path back to government for her if she were exonerated.

Asked whether there was a route back for her or whether there were still question marks over her underpayment of stamp duty, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “I think you’re asking about hypothetical Cabinet change, which I’m not going to engage in.”

He added: “It’s not for me to comment on an individual’s tax affairs, and as I say, she’s addressed quite a lot about herself this morning.”

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

Sir Keir Starmer is “getting on with the business of delivering change” in the face of talks of a leadership coup in his cabinet.

Downing Street insisted the prime minister “purely focused on governing” amid rumours Wes Streeting is to launch a challenge as early as today.

His former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner also appeared to pave the way for a potential bid today, as she confirmed she had been cleared of deliberate wrongdoing following an investigation into her tax affairs.

The prime minister’s spokesman declined to comment on the announcement, and when asked whether it marked a route back to government for Ms Rayner said: “I think you’re asking about hypothetical cabinet change, which I’m not going to engage in.”

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:

With the steam appearing to go out of a potential leadership bid by health secretary Wes Streeting this morning, supporters of the Greater Manchester mayor are laying the groundwork for his return.

Supporters have been briefed to emphasise the need for “a dignified transition” for Keir Starmer and for a replacement to be announced at the party conference in late September.

This would give Mr Burnham more than enough time to find a seat to stand and get back in parliament to contest the leadership contest.

It is understood that a seat has been agreed in principle where Labour are projected to see off both the Greens and Reform.

The briefing also reflects a growing feeling that Sir Keir should not be humiliated by this process and just ousted quickly.

A slow “orderly transition” allows him time to build his own legacy.

Housing secretary Steve Reed has arrived at Downing Street this afternoon.

He ignored questions from reporters as he entered No 10.