Streeting threatens to trigger Labour leadership contest as early as next week

Wes Streeting has suggested he would be prepared to trigger a Labour leadership contest to replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister as early as next week, as the party faces dual by-elections that could reshape its future. The former health secretary told BBC Newsnight that “uncertainty and paralysis” in the leadership would have to be resolved if the party wins Thursday’s Makerfield by-election, where Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is standing to return to Parliament. Both Streeting and Burnham have said they would stand in any contest, but Streeting now appears ready to force the issue. “I would prefer the PM to take a decision on his own terms rather than leave it for me or Andy or anyone else to trigger a contest,” he said. “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.” Asked when he might launch a contest, he said: “I’m not going to get into ‘is it Monday, is it Tuesday’ – let’s give the prime minister a bit of space over the weekend to reflect on his position.” Streeting earlier told the BBC he had the backing of the 81 Labour MPs he would need to launch a leadership challenge. He resigned from government last month, accusing the prime minister of drift and a lack of vision. In an hour-long speech, he set out his own vision for the economy, seeking to present himself as the financially responsible candidate who would encourage growth and bring taxes down. Polls have suggested that Burnham is more popular with Labour Party members, and Streeting himself said he would be the underdog in a contest. But the former health secretary seemed keen to sketch out the battleground, striking first blows in a “battle of ideas” over the party’s future direction. In an apparent dig at his leadership rival, he said 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”. Meanwhile, Labour faces a separate challenge in Aberdeen, where the party has been accused of “destroying” North Sea jobs ahead of a by-election. Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho claimed Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy is more willing to take oil from Russia or Qatar than Aberdeen. The accusation comes as Labour seeks to navigate between its net-zero ambitions and the economic interests of oil-dependent constituencies. Sir Keir, who is at the G7 summit in France, reiterated his intention “not to walk away” but to “carry on with what I was elected to do”. With the Makerfield result due on Friday, all eyes will be on whether Streeting follows through on his threat – and whether Starmer can survive the week.