Pressure on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer intensified on Wednesday after former health minister Wes Streeting declared he was prepared to trigger a Labour Party leadership contest as early as next week.
Streeting, who resigned from the government last month in protest at Starmer’s record, said the party could no longer afford continued uncertainty and urged a swift resolution to the growing leadership crisis.
Speaking to BBC Newsnight on Tuesday night, Streeting said he believed any challenge should happen sooner rather than later and indicated he had the support of the 81 Labour MPs required to formally trigger a leadership contest.
The remarks represent the clearest indication yet that Starmer’s grip on power is under serious threat amid mounting discontent within Labour ranks.
Despite the growing pressure, Starmer insisted he would not step aside voluntarily and vowed to fight any attempt to remove him from office.
“If there is a challenge, I intend to fight in any challenge to my leadership,” Starmer said while attending the G7 summit in Evian, France.
“I don’t think there should be a challenge, because I think that is a bad thing for the country.”
Attention is now focused on Thursday’s local election in Makerfield, where Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is seeking a return to Parliament.
A victory for Burnham would significantly strengthen his position as a potential challenger and could reshape the leadership contest should one be launched.
Streeting suggested Starmer should use the coming days to consider his future.
“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 … We can’t carry on with this uncertainty and paralysis.”
The latest developments come amid broader concerns about Starmer’s leadership and authority within government.
His position was further weakened last week by the resignation of Defence Minister John Healey, a highly respected figure within Labour, who accompanied his departure with a sharp criticism of the prime minister’s handling of defence spending.
The resignation added to growing divisions within the party and intensified questions about Starmer’s ability to maintain support among senior colleagues.
With Labour MPs increasingly restless and potential rivals positioning themselves for a challenge, the coming days could prove decisive for Starmer’s political future and the direction of the governing party.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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