Starmer faces open rebellion and leadership challenge from former Health Secretary

(SeaPRwire) –   Efforts to challenge British Prime Minister Keir Starmer erupted into open rebellion on Thursday, with one potential rival resigning from the Cabinet and another preparing to enter any future leadership contest.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting became the first senior minister to step down from Starmer’s Cabinet on Thursday, a move expected to pave the way for a challenge to his leadership.

Starmer is under increasing pressure to resign following his Labour Party’s poor performance in last week’s local and regional elections.

“You have shown courage and statesmanship on the world stage — not least in keeping Britain out of the war in Iran,” Streeting wrote in a resignation letter. “But where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift.”

“It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election,” he added.

Streeting, whose political ambitions are well-known, is seen as one of several figures capable of mounting a challenge to Starmer.

Another potential contender, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, announced on Thursday that she had reached an agreement with tax authorities to resolve outstanding questions about her taxes that led to her departure from the Cabinet in September. In an interview with The Guardian, Rayner said Starmer should “reflect on” his position and stated she was ready to “play my part” in any leadership contest if Streeting triggered one.

Calls for Starmer to step down have intensified since Labour suffered significant losses in last week’s local and regional elections, reflecting voter dissatisfaction with a government that has failed to deliver on promises to boost economic growth and improve living standards for working people.

A sluggish economy and persistently high consumer price inflation have made it difficult for Starmer’s administration to fulfill its pledges after winning a landslide victory less than two years ago.

Starmer has vowed to remain in office, warning lawmakers that any leadership contest would plunge the government into “chaos” during a time when it must focus on issues such as the cost of living crisis and the war in the Middle East.

His resistance to a leadership challenge received a boost on Thursday morning with the release of positive economic news.

Gross domestic product, a broad measure of economic activity, grew by 0.6% in the first three months of the year, up from 0.2% in the previous quarter, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the figures demonstrated that her policies were effective and that renewed economic growth would allow the government to increase funding for public services and support programs for those affected by high living costs.

“But that is only possible because of the economic stability that we have restored to our economy,” she told the BBC. “And we shouldn’t jeopardize that by plunging the country into chaos at a time when there is conflict in the world.”

There was also encouraging news from the National Health Service. Waiting times for NHS appointments — one of Streeting’s key priorities — have fallen for the fifth consecutive month, bolstering his potential candidacy.

Streeting belongs to the moderate wing of the left-leaning Labour Party, as does Starmer. Rayner, by contrast, appeals more to the party’s left-wing base, advocating for higher minimum wages and increased taxation on the wealthy.

Under Labour Party rules, any challenger to the prime minister would need the backing of 81 of the party’s 403 members in the House of Commons. More than that number have publicly urged Starmer to quit in recent days.

However, other potential candidates may still enter the race for leadership.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has frequently been mentioned as a possible candidate, though he would need to return to Parliament before running. Allies have suggested that a sitting MP could resign to create a vacancy allowing Burnham to stand in a special election.

Burnham canceled his regular appearance on a local BBC radio program this week to “prioritize discussions arising from last week’s elections.”