Politics Home Article | Wes Streeting Resigns As Health Secretary

Wes Streeting leaves No 10 on Wednesday (Alamy)

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The resignation comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s future looks increasingly fraught amid resignations and calls from those in government for him to resign following a disastrous set of local elections in which the party lost 1,500 council seats.

Streeting met with Starmer in Downing Street on Wednesday morning, leaving No 10 after just 16 minutes. The Times reported that Streeting had told the Prime Minister that he was preparing to challenge him for the leadership.

It was later widely reported that Streeting was expected to resign as soon as Thursday morning and fire the gun on a leadership election. 

As of Wednesday, four ministers had resigned from government, including health minister Zubir Ahmed, who is a close ally of Streeting.

He was preceded by faith and communities minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, Home Office minister Jess Phillips and Ministry of Justice minister Alex-Davies Jones.

On Wednesday, PoliticsHome reported that junior minister Josh MacAlister, Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington, had told the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for his departure.

At the time of writing, more than 90 Labour MPs have publicly called for Starmer to resign.

On Tuesday, PoliticsHome reported that Darren Jones, chief secretary to the Prime Minister, had sparked suspicion among colleagues that he was seeking support for his own leadership bid.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is also seen as a potential contender for the leadership. Miliband’s allies told PoliticsHome on Wednesday that he would have the numbers to stand in a leadership contest if Manchester mayor Andy Burnham cannot get a seat in time.

Angela Rayner revealed in an interview with The Guardian on Thursday morning that she had been cleared by HMRC of deliberate wrongdoing or carelessness over her tax affairs. It means that Rayner could put her name forward in a bid for the leadership.