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Former UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced his candidacy to replace Keir Starmer as the leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister.
His announcement follows a wave of disastrous local election results for the ruling party, which triggered widespread panic and demands for leadership reform.
Streeting had previously resigned from his cabinet position with a sharp critique of Starmer’s performance, though his exit did not immediately spark a formal challenge from other senior ministers.
Streeting’s decision to declare his ambitions coincided with political manoeuvres from Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who recently launched a bid to secure a parliamentary seat in an upcoming by-election.
Streeting explained that he is intentionally delaying the activation of a formal leadership contest to allow Burnham time to enter Parliament and join the race.
He emphasised that the party needs a robust competition featuring the strongest possible field of candidates to ensure the next leader possesses absolute political legitimacy.
Under Labour Party rules, a formal leadership challenge requires the backing of 20 per cent of its members of parliament—81 MPs—to officially trigger the voting process.
Once initiated, Starmer would automatically be placed on the ballot to defend his position. At the same time, the broader party membership and affiliates would vote using a preferential ranking system where a candidate must secure a 50 per cent majority to win.
With the party’s National Executive Committee granting Burnham permission to contest the Makerfield by-election, the formal challenge against Starmer is expected to remain on hold until at least mid-June.
Despite the current delay in paperwork, the intense political manoeuvring underscores deep fractures within the centre-left party, as a mounting number of junior ministers and backbench MPs continue to push for Starmer’s immediate resignation.
