Wes Streeting Quits Government to Run for Labour Leader and Prime Minister in London

Wes Streeting, the U.K. health secretary, said at a think tank event in London that he would run to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader and prime minister, adding, "We need a proper contest with the best candidates on the field, and I'll be standing."

The BBC described No 10’s focus on whether Streeting can "Does Wes have the numbers?" as Streeting quit government to prepare for a run at the top job.

BBC

CBS News said Streeting wrote a resignation letter challenging Starmer’s leadership, arguing he does not see the prime minister as being able to "lead the Labour Party into the next general election," and noting the party needs "vision" but there is a "vacuum."

CBS News also said challengers must get support from at least 20% of the Labour Party’s members of parliament to trigger a leadership election, while Starmer warned lawmakers that any leadership contest would plunge the government into "chaos" at a time it should be focused on issues like the cost of living crisis.

The BBC said a No 10 discovery on Thursday morning found that Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, had found an MP willing to give up their seat so he can take a crack at it.

CBS News said Burnham unveiled a bid to become a member of Parliament, or MP, two days before Streeting’s announcement, and that if successful it would allow Burnham to run in a Labour leadership contest that now appears all but inevitable.

BBC

The BBC framed the contest as likely over the summer, with a new leader and prime minister by the party conference in late September, while also stressing that the timetable is "miles away from being confirmed."

CBS News said Streeting’s resignation came after the party suffered results, and it noted Nigel Farage and Reform U.K. made significant gains across England in those local elections.

The BBC reported that if Burnham wins the by-election, one minister told it Streeting and Burnham should find an "accommodation" to avoid what could be a "catastrophic" leadership contest.

The BBC also quoted another senior figure predicting no-one would even stand against Burnham because "he'll be carried south for a coronation," while noting that this view is not universal and that others in government are furious with Burnham.

CBS News said Streeting’s resignation letter challenged Starmer’s leadership and argued that where the party needs "vision," there is a "vacuum," as Streeting positioned himself for a contest to replace Starmer.

The BBC said the UK, along with France, is trying to build an international coalition to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz again, with about 40 other countries, and it added that a Nato summit soon would make defence spending an issue.