Politics Home Article | Wes Streeting Backs Andy Burnham For Labour Leader

Wes Streeting stood down as health secretary last month (Alamy)

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Starmer announced on Monday morning that he would stand down as PM this summer, triggering the process to replace him as leader. 

Having comfortably won the Makerfield by-election last week, Burnham is returning to Parliament as an MP and has confirmed his intention to stand as leader to replace Starmer. 

Streeting, who resigned as health secretary last month, was widely viewed as one of the main potential contenders to run for the leadership, but has now backed Burnham.

“Having spoken at length with Andy in recent days, I’m convinced that there is a place for those ideas under his leadership; that he is committed to building an inclusive party that draws on the best of our political traditions; and that he can win the fight of our lives against the forces of nationalism,” Streeting said.

“We could spend the summer exaggerating small differences, or we can roll up our sleeves and help him to deliver the change our Party and our country needs. That is the choice that I am making and I hope that everyone else will back Andy, too.”

He said the Makerfield by-election was a “victory for unity and hope over division and hatred” and also a victory for Burnham.

In his resignation letter to Starmer in May, Streeting said there were “good reasons” for him to remain as health secretary, but added: “As you know from our conversation earlier this week, having lost confidence in your leadership, I have concluded that it would be dishonourable and unprincipled to do so.”

He said last month’s local election results “were unprecedented – both in terms of the scale of the defeat and the consequences of that failure”.

Burnham confirmed his intention to run for the Labour leadership shortly following Starmer’s speech, praising his “huge service to our country” during a “challenging period”.

“His decision marks the beginning of a transition and it is important that this process is conducted in an orderly and responsible way,” he said. 

“I will put myself forward as part of this process. The country expects stability, seriousness and a continued focus on the issues that matter most and that is what it will get.

“As we move forward, our priority must be to work together to get the country back to where we all want it to be. People want to see progress on economic growth, cost of living, public services, housing and opportunities for the next generation.”

Speaking outside No 10 on Monday morning, Starmer said he had accepted the wishes of Labour MPs with “good grace” and that he would help facilitate an “orderly transition” for his successor.

He informed the King this morning that he had resigned as Labour Party leader, triggering a process to replace him that will begin in early July, with a new prime minister in place by September.