‘That ship has sailed’: Wes Streeting bids farewell to leadership ambitions

Wes Streeting has appeared to rule out ever standing to become leader of the Labour Party in the future, saying it is “quite a liberating position to be in.”

Speaking at a Fabian Society fringe event at Labour conference, the defence secretary said he was, for the first time in his political life, not angling for the top job.

“I am – for the first time since I was probably about 15 years old – not running to be leader of the Labour party, and it’s quite a liberating position to be in”, Streeting said in comments reported by Times journalist Aubrey Allegretti. 

Asked whether that was the case “for now”, Streeting replied: “That ship has sailed.”

Sounds like Wes Streeting has ruled out another future leadership bid 👀

He tells a Fabian fringe event: “I am – for the first time since I was probably about 15 years old – not running to be leader of the Labour party, and it’s quite a liberating position to be in.”

Asked if…

— Aubrey Allegretti (@breeallegretti) September 27, 2026

Streeting resigned as secretary of state for health and social care in May 2026 after professedly losing confidence in Keir Starmer as prime minister.  

Streeting held talks with Starmer in 10 Downing Street at the height of the May 2026 Labour leadership crisis, which followed the recent local elections and simultaneous elections to the devolved Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru. The health secretary was in the building for just 16 minutes before departing. Reports later indicated that Streeting, in the prime minister’s company, had privately stated his intention to resign and challenge Starmer for the Labour leadership. 

Wes Streeting quits as health secretary and calls for Starmer to resign

Streeting, having delayed to avoid interrupting the state opening of parliament, formally submitted his resignation at 1:00 pm on 14 May.

In the days that followed his resignation, Streeting indicated he would stand in a future Labour leadership election. The comments came as part of an appearance at the annual Progress/Progressive Britain conference in London. Streeting was also highly critical of his party’s record since at least 2015.

He stated: “We haven’t had a debate in the Labour Party about who and what we’re for in more than a decade. The moral emergency of antisemitism in our party left little room for intellectual renewal or policy debate on the centre left.

“We then had a dishonest leadership contest, followed by an overcautiousness in opposition. Interesting policy ideas couldn’t be floated because we were too afraid of what the Tories might say, so we said nothing. Instead of a willingness to challenge ideas and kick the tyres, debate was viewed as division and shut down.”

However, following the sensational June 2026 Makerfield by-election, which returned Andy Burnham to parliament, Streeting endorsed Burnham and abandoned his own leadership bid. The former health secretary said he had spoken to Burnham “at length” in recent days.

In a post to social media, he stated: “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 country needs. That is the choice I am making and I hope that everyone else will back Andy, too.”

Streeting was appointed as defence secretary after Burnham entered 10 Downing Street as prime minister. 

Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election to seal parliamentary return