Wes Streeting has declared he is “prepared” to trigger a Labour leadership contest against Sir Keir Starmer as early as next week, as party tensions burst into the open just days before a crucial by-election.
The former health secretary told BBC Newsnight that the “uncertainty and paralysis” at the top of the party must be resolved if Labour wins Thursday’s Makerfield by-election – a contest in which his leadership rival, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, is standing to return to Parliament.
“Wes Streeting says he will trigger a Labour leadership contest next week if Starmer does not step down.”
Streeting, who resigned from government last month accusing the prime minister of “drift” and a lack of vision, said he would prefer Sir Keir “to take a decision on his own terms rather than leave it for me or Andy or anyone else to trigger a contest.” But he added: “If not we can’t carry on with this uncertainty and paralysis and there will need to be a contest and I would be prepared to do that.”
The intervention came as Sir Keir, speaking to reporters at the G7 summit in France, reiterated his intention “not to walk away” but to “carry on with what I was elected to do.”
Streeting earlier told the BBC he had secured the backing of the 81 Labour MPs needed to launch a leadership challenge. In an apparent dig at Burnham, he warned that any contest must not become “a race of who can offer the most expensive and popular pledges to the party faithful at the expense of the British people.” He cautioned against treating the bond markets as “Bond villains,” adding: “We must reject the reckless approach.”
Polls have suggested Burnham is more popular with party members, and Streeting acknowledged he would be the “underdog.” But in an hour-long speech setting out his own economic vision, he sought to present himself as the financially responsible candidate who would encourage growth and cut taxes.
If Burnham wins the Makerfield by-election and becomes an MP, he will be able to initiate or join a leadership race – something he is currently unable to do. Both men have previously shied away from saying whether they would trigger a contest, but Streeting’s blunt warning to Sky News that a challenge will happen next week has dramatically escalated the pressure on the prime minister.
With Parliament due to return, the coming days will determine whether Sir Keir can hold off the revolt – or whether the Labour Party is heading for a full-blown leadership battle.