Wes Streeting has quit as health secretary in a scathing letter to Sir Keir Starmer, saying he has lost confidence in Sir Keir’s leadership.
It is widely expected Mr Streeting will now mount a leadership challenge against the prime minister.
In his resignation letter, he accused Sir Keir of creating a vacuum where the country needed a vision, and urged him to listen to his colleagues.
But Sir Keir has vowed to fight on, despite suggestions of an imminent challenge to his leadership, Downing Street has said.
Hours earlier, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner announced she had been cleared of deliberate wrongdoing over her tax affairs.
Ms Rayner did not rule out running in a Labour leadership race but told The Guardian she would not trigger a contest.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham pulled out of his weekly radio slot to “prioritise discussions arising from last week’s local elections”, his spokesperson said.
Read MoreFrom primary school prison visits to the cusp of No 10: The unorthodox rise of Wes Streeting
Analysis: Do Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting have what it takes to be Labour leader?
Angela Rayner cleared by HMRC over tax affairs as leadership bid heats up
Key Points
- Wes Streeting resigns as health secretary ahead of expected challenge to PM
- Starmer insists he will not resign amid Labour chaos
- Poll suggests PM would beat Streeting in leadership contest
- ‘Where we need vision, we have a vacuum’: Wes Streeting’s scathing resignation letter in full
- Streeting won't trigger leadership race today, The Independent understands
- Angela Rayner cleared over tax row by HMRC, paving way for No 10 bid
Starmer: I'm sorry Streeting quit
17:00 , Jane DaltonSir Keir Starmer has said he was very sorry Wes Streeting had resigned, and said he hoped they could work together “to show that Labour in power can address the problems our opponents exploit”.
Recap: Two MPs deny preparing to stand down for Andy Burnham
17:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneTwo MPs have denied rumours they will be standing down to allow Andy Burnham to attempt to return to Parliament.
MP Jeff Smith was asked if he was about to make way for the Greater Manchester Mayor, but the Manchester Withington MP said he was not.
Rusholme MP Afzal Khan also denied speculation he was preparing to quit Parliament to create a vacancy for Andy Burnham to return to Westminster.
Chief whip avoids questions in Downing Street
16:44 , Jane DaltonChief whip Jonathan Reynolds has arrived in Downing Street, opting to walk around the back of No 10 rather than face questions from reporters outside the front door.
How would a Labour leadership contest work?
16:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThere is no formal confidence vote procedure to oust a Labour leader.
Any challenger to Sir Keir would instead require the support of 81 MPs – 20 per cent of the party in the Commons – to trigger a contest.
Written nominations would need to be submitted to Labour general secretary Hollie Ridley.
In the case of a successful challenge, Sir Keir would be on the ballot by default as the incumbent and would not need to gather nominations.
If Sir Keir were to resign, it would automatically start a contest for a new leader.
It is up to the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee to set the timeline for a leadership election.
New health secretary is coming at a 'critical time', says BMA
16:16 , Harriette BoucherDr Emma Runswick, BMA deputy chair of council, said: “The change of the most senior politician in charge of the nation’s health and care comes at a critical time.
“All major groups of NHS doctors in England are currently in dispute with the government, with the very real prospect of industrial action across all primary and secondary care doctors this year. Successfully resolving these disputes by valuing the expert clinicians who run services on the ground, preventing further strikes, and allowing us to get on with caring for patients at a time of almost record demand, must be at the very top of the new health secretary’s in-tray.
“The new health secretary must also address the threat to patient safety posed by doctor replacement with non-medical staff, the shortage of training and GP jobs, and the outrageous redundancies of public health doctors which will make long-term ill health across the country worse. At a time when the health needs of the population are so high, it’s absurd that we have doctors facing unemployment.
“As the trade union and professional association representing all doctors and medical students in the UK, we look forward to working with the new secretary of state to address the urgent issues facing doctors, health services and patients as soon as possible.”
Comment: What would Wes Streeting actually do differently as prime minister?
16:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneFor all the health secretary’s achievements with the NHS, his centrist instincts and peerless communication skills, the odds are stacked against him replacing Keir Starmer in No 10 , says John Rentoul.
What would Wes Streeting actually do differently as prime minister?
MP insists Streeting has numbers to challenge Starmer
15:40 , Nicole Wootton-CaneA Labour MP backing Wes Streeting in any potential leadership challenge has insisted he has the numbers to trigger a contest.
Speaking to the BBC, Alan Gemmell said the former health secretary has “taken a principled decision today not to trigger a contest”.
“It's clear in conversations with MPs and with the unions that the party wants a discussion, a battle of ideas, an open contest, a broad contest for the direction that we should take and how we fix the problems that we're in,” the MP for Central Ayrshire said.
“I hope that we will see over the next few days a range of people setting out their stall for why we need a more ambitious agenda for our government," he says.
"I'm sure that we will see Wes making the argument for why he would be a great leader of our country."
Watch: Labour has descended into civil war, says Kemi Badenoch
15:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneCould Andy Burnham become prime minister? Five steps to replace Starmer
15:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneManchester Mayor Andy Burnham is being touted as a leading contender to replace Sir Keir Starmer if he resigns as Prime Minister.
Mr Burnham has previously indicated he would be willing to overthrow the current Labour leader. At last year’s Labour Party conference, he called for a “debate on our direction”, and in November, he refused to rule out a leadership bid, telling BBC Breakfast: “I don’t know what the future will hold.”
However, as the current mayor of Manchester without a seat in Parliament, Mr Burnham faces a potentially arduous route to the top.
These are the steps he would have to take before becoming the UK’s next prime minister.
Could Burnham become prime minister? Five steps to replace Starmer
First Cabinet minister responds to Streeting resignation
15:02 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWes Streeting’s resignation marks a chance for Labour to “draw a line” under leadership debate, Bridget Phillipson has said.
As the first Cabinet minister to respond to his departure, the Education Secretary told reporters: “The Prime Minister has my full support and I’m really sorry to see Wes go.
“He has been a brilliant health secretary. He’s done a fantastic job and we saw that today, with the NHS waiting list numbers that are really encouraging and what people want to see.
“But I fundamentally disagree with the position he’s taken. I’m sad that he’s gone, but I think this is now a chance for us to pause, take a breath as a party and try and draw a line under all of this.”
She added: “What I can say very clearly is that the Prime Minister has my full support, continues to have my full support, and he has the Cabinet behind him in the important job that he’s doing, leading our country at a very unstable time.”
Asked whether she was “absolutely certain” her Cabinet colleagues backed Sir Keir Starmer, Ms Phillipson said: “The Cabinet are behind the Prime Minister. I am behind the Prime Minister.”
'I don't know who will lead us into the next election', says Labour minister
14:56 , Harriette BoucherJacqui Smith does not know who will lead the Labour Party into the next election, but believes it is the wrong time to have a leadership contest.
The minister told Sky News: “Last week’s election results were dire and that understandably has caused MPs to think really hard about what we need to do and what leadership we need to ensure in three years time, when we face the next general election, we can ensure that this isn’t only a one-term government.
She added: “I don't know, frankly, who will be leading us at that particular point.
“What I do know is...I don't believe this is the right moment either to have a leadership contest or to turn inwards or against each other.”
Badenoch: 'Labour has descended into civil war'
14:38 , Harriette BoucherKemi Badenoch has hit out at Wes Streeting’s “hit job”, saying Labour has now descended into civil war.
“I told Wes Streeting to do his job. Instead, he’s done a hit job on the prime minister,” the Tory leader wrote on X.
“The Labour Party has now descended into civil war.
“While they’re sharpening their knives and plotting in the bars of Westminster, nobody is running the country.
“The problem is not just Keir Starmer, it’s Labour. It doesn’t matter which Labour MP is in charge, they’re all queuing up to make things worse.
“Labour can’t even agree on who leads their party. They have a vacancy, we have a plan to get Britain working again.”
Another Labour MP denies he is preparing to make way for Andy Burnham
14:30 , David MaddoxStockport Labour MP Navendu Mishra has told The Independent that it is “categorically untrue” he is preparing to stand aside to allow Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham make a bid for parliament.
It comes amid growing speculation of a seat being vacated to allow Mr Burnham to return to parliament and then run for the Labour leadership and become prime minister.
Time appears to be running out for the Manchester mayor with the resignation of Wes Streeting as health secretary bringing a leadership contest closer.
Mr Mishra’s denial came after supporters of Mr Burnham pointed out that Mr Mishra is an ally of the Manchester mayor and Stockport is where he had his first major development and investment.
The Stockport Town Centre Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) aims to build 8,000 new homes.
The seat is projected to be a Labour hold despite falling support for the party in the north west of England although both the Greens and Reform would run Mr Burnham close and are within two percentage points.
However, an ally of Mr Burnham said: “You have to remember that Andy is hugely popular in the north west and brings his own personal support which would make the seat very winnable.”
There is speculation that whoever stood down to allow Mr Burnham to run would get a seat in the House of Lords.
Streeting has heralded the end of the Starmer premiership – but he’s unlikely to win the crown
14:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe health secretary has initiated a leadership contest which he will struggle to win, says political editor David Maddox.
Streeting has heralded end of Starmer premiership but he’s unlikely to win the crown
The new health secretary faces major challenges
14:25 , Rebecca ThomasWes Streeting approached his tenure as health secretary as a “reformer” often taking a carrot and stick approach to the NHS.As he resigns from his post the next health secretary faces a number of challenges including:
- To return the NHS back to meeting its target to have for 92 per cent of patients to start treatment within 18 weeks of a GP referral. As of March 2026 the NHS saw 65.3 per cent of patients.
- Getting the NHS back to seeing 95 per cent of A&E patients within four hours - 76.9 per cent of patients in England were seen within four hours in A&Es in April
- Implementing the new Health Bill and abolishment of NHS England. This major restructure of the NHS is still in process and a major reform which the next in line will have to manage
- Resident doctors strikes could continue unless the new boss can come to a compromise that Wes Streeting could not.
Sarah Woolnagh, chief executive for the King’s Fund commented: “Each political leader is different from the last, with their own focus and priorities which shape where the Department expends its energy.
“Whomever steps into the role will face some immediate choices. Do they continue with the Health Bill in its current form – which will dominate their day-to-day job as Health and Social Care Secretary? Who do they appoint as the next NHS chief executive and what qualities are they looking for? Do they keep the same timetable for the Casey Commission (Social care commission) or ask it to speed up?
“These are decisions that will shape the health and care system for years to come and ones the incoming Secretary of State will have to grip quickly if they are to make a success of it.”
Unfair to suggest Starmer has left UK not knowing what Labour stands for, says minister
14:16 , Harriette BoucherWes Streeting’s suggestion that the Labour leadership has left the country not knowing what it stands for is unfair, a minister has said.
Baroness Jacqui Smith told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme: “Yes, I think it is.
“There is more that we need to do, to both communicate what we’ve already done, to speed up what we need to do to change this country, and to tell a story about the country that we’re going to be.
“But just on this point about two years, you know, I’ve been around for a while. I went through, for example, the change of leadership from Tony Blair to Gordon Brown.
“Let’s remind ourselves that that was after Tony Blair had served 10 years and the Labour government had been in place for 10 years.
“I don’t think I can remember a Labour government who, after two years, had delivered everything that we would have wanted them to do.”
Watch: Ex-Labour advisor says Streeting resignation could be attempt to 'burst dam' on forcing Starmer out
14:13 , Harriette BoucherHow would a Streeting-Starmer leadership contest work?
14:10 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWes Streeting has resigned as health secretary and looks set to force a Labour leadership contest, saying it is “clear” that Sir Keir Starmer would not lead the party into the next general election.
His resignation letter, addressed to the prime minister and issued on Thursday lunchtime, read: “It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election and that Labour MPs and Labour unions want the debate about what comes next to be a battle of ideas, not of personalities or petty factionalism.
“It needs to be broad, and it needs to be the best possible field of candidates. I support that approach and I hope you will facilitate it.”
You can find out how a Streeting-Starmer leadership contest would work below:
How would a Streeting-Starmer leadership contest work?
From primary school prison visits to the cusp of No 10: The unorthodox rise of Wes Streeting
14:07 , Dan HaygarthHis grandfather was an armed robber. His grandmother shared a cell with Christine Keeler. Raised in a council flat in the East End, Wes Streeting now finds himself as the frontrunner in the race to succeed Starmer in Number 10. Harry Cockburn and Andy Gregory take a look at the health secretary’s humble beginnings.
From primary school prison visits to the cusp of No 10: The rise of Wes Streeting
Catherine West doesn't rule out voting for Keir Starmer in potential leadership election
14:05 , Harriette BoucherAnalysis: Why is Wes Streeting delaying his leadership challenge?
14:03 , Millie CookeMany people saw Wes Streeting's resignation letter as the starting gun for a leadership challenge. But his allies have now told The Independent that he won't be triggering a contest today, instead pointing to his letter which called for a "broad" contest which includes "the best possible field of candidates".
It is becoming increasingly clear that Streeting is trying to dodge accusations of being self serving or overly ambitious, accusation that would most certainly be levelled at him if he triggered a quick contest now before Burnham has a chance to return to Westminster.
He is also hoping the prime minister will choose to voluntarily resign, rather than forcing the former health secretary to wield the knife and face accusations of treachery.
Streeting has 'screwed himself good and proper', MP says
14:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWes Streeting has “screwed himself good and proper”, a Labour MP has said.
The backbench MP told the Press Association Mr Streeting’s resignation letter “reads like he has no numbers” to make a leadership challenge himself, adding: “He’s screwed himself good and proper.”
Catherine West doesn’t rule out voting for Starmer in leadership election
14:00 , Athena StavrouThe MP who fired the starting gun on the race to challenge Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership has not ruled out voting for him in a leadership election.
Catherine West told the cabinet over the weekend that they must put forward a candidate to replace Sir Keir, or else she would seek the 81 signatures needed to launch a bid herself.
She then rowed back on Monday, and opted instead to ask Labour MPs if they would add their names to a list of those calling for Sir Keir to set out a timetable to leave by September.
But the Hornsey and Friern Barnet MP has now appeared to say the prime minister “could well win” a competition if one was launched.
Speaking after Wes Streeting’s resignation on Thursday afternoon, she said: “What I would like to see is the honest conversation of people coming forward - including the prime minister if he’s going to be a candidate in this particular race. Because of course many of us like Keir very much as a person, he’s got excellent credentials on the international stage and he could well win a competition if he put his name forward.”
Asked who she would vote for in such a contest she said: “Well we don’t know who the other candidates are.”
Analysis: The NHS saw some improvements under Wes Streeting - but progress was slow
13:55 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s health editor Rebecca Thomas reports:
Former health secretary Wes Streeting has stepped down.
His tenure has overseen “positive” but “slow” progress on improvements to the NHS, experts have said.
When he came into office, Mr Streeting made a clear promise to reduce elective waiting lists, improve GP access, and shift the NHS towards prevention.
As the NHS faces the prospect of a 10th health secretary since 2010, Mr Streeting’s record is better than his Tory predecessors but still lukewarm.
On Thursday new data shows NHS waiting lists supposedly dropped by 500,000. However, as the HSJ reports, this decrease comes amid a jump in patients being removed from the waiting list.
There are currently 7.1 million people on the overall NHS waiting list, and reducing this will still be a huge task for the next health secretary.
Mr Streeting, as with the previous health secretaries, has also been unable to properly quash the uprisings by resident doctors who have continued to strike.
Responding to his departure Thea Stein, chief executive for think tank the Nuffield Trust, said a key element missing from Mr Streeting’s time in post had been an admission of the “trade offs” the NHS would have to do with the scarce resources available.
She pointed out that while public opinion of the NHS has improved, the progress has been slow.
She also highlighted the lack of action on social care, which she said was “disappointingly slow under Mr Streeting's leadership, despite a specific promise on this in Labour's manifesto”.
Streeting won't trigger leadership race today, The Independent understands
13:52 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Wes Streeting will not launch a leadership challenge today, The Independent understands, but his allies have insisted he has the backing of 81 MPs to do so.
It came after he resigned, calling for a "broad" leadership race which includes "the best possible field of candidates".
What will Streeting's resignation mean for Angela Rayner, Andy Burnham and other possible challengers?
13:50 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Wes Streeting has not yet officially triggered a leadership race, but his leadership rivals - including Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner - will be assuming that his decision to resign means he has the support to do so.
They will be expecting the health secretary to trigger an official challenge to the prime minister in the coming hours - and so will be readying their next steps.
For Rayner, this is an easier task - but for Burnham he will be scrambling to find an MP who would give up their seat and create a path for him to return to Westminster and stand in a possible race. He will also be lobbying MPs and Labour's ruling NEC to set out a longer leadership race to give him enough time to do so. But both camps will be watching Team Streeting closely over the next few hours.
Labour MP says Streeting's letter is 'right call'
13:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneLabour backbencher Jonathan Brash reiterated his call for Sir Keir Starmer to set out a timetable for his departure following Wes Streeting’s resignation from Cabinet.
The Hartlepool MP posted on X: “The call for a broad contest with the best possible field of candidates is absolutely right from Wes Streeting.
“The Prime Minister should now do the right thing for the country and set a timetable.”
The call for a broad contest with the best possible field of candidates is absolutely right from @wesstreeting. The Prime Minister should now do the right thing for the country and set a timetable. https://t.co/Ze27jR97ZI
— Jonathan Brash MP (@JonathanBrash) May 14, 2026
Analysis: It is currently unclear whether Streeting has enough backing from MPs
13:40 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Wes Streeting's resignation letter notably did not include an official challenge to the prime minister, nor did it confirm whether he would be triggering a leadership race. It comes after mounting speculation that the former health secretary did not have the required support - the backing of 81 MPs - to trigger a contest.
His allies have been insisting that he does have enough support, but the delay in announcing his resignation suggested he may have been scrambling behind the scenes to get his support over the line. All eyes will now be on the former health secretary to see whether he has the required support to trigger a contest.
Polanski says Streeting would bring 'more of the same'
13:35 , Nicole Wootton-CaneGreen leader Zack Polanski said Wes Streeting would be “more of the same, but even worse, a factional and divisive politician” and pointed to the former health secretary’s past association with Lord Peter Mandelson.
“If Labour thinks Wes Streeting is the answer, they obviously don’t know the question the country is asking,” he said.
“Last week’s elections show the country is crying out for a break from the failed status quo. Keir Starmer has been unable and unwilling to break with an economic model that has fuelled the affordability crisis, and this is why we have said he must go.
“Wes Streeting would be more of the same, but even worse, a factional and divisive politician, a close ally of Peter Mandelson, who favours an economy even more tilted to the wealthy, and whose record as health secretary is more privatisation and more personal donations from private healthcare.
“The Labour Government is failing and is not strong enough to stand up to the greatest threat facing this country, that of a Nigel Farage government.
“Labour needs to stop trying to mimic them and join the Greens in taking the divisive politics of Reform head on.”
‘Where we need vision, we have a vacuum’: Wes Streeting’s scathing resignation letter in full
13:28 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWes Streeting has resigned as health secretary after stating he has “lost confidence” in Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.
It is widely expected that Mr Streeting will now mount a leadership challenge against the prime minister.
In his resignation letter, the former health secretary accused Sir Keir of creating a “vacuum” where the country needed a “vision” and urged him to “listen to your colleagues”. Downing Street has said Sir Keir has vowed to “fight on” despite suggestions of an imminent challenge to his leadership.
You can read the full letter below:
‘Where we need vision, we have a vacuum’: Streeting’s resignation letter in full
Streeting blames Starmer for local election losses
13:22 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWes Streeting also used his resignation letter to lay the blame for Labour’s dismal local election performance at the prime minister’s feet.
“There is no doubt that the unpopularity of this government was a major and common factor in our defeats across England, Scotland and Wales,” he wrote.
“Good Labour people lost through no fault of their own. There are many reasons we could point to: from individual mistakes on policy like the decision to cut the winter fuel allowance to the ‘island of strangers’ speech, all of which have left the country not knowing who we are or what we really stand for.
“Last week’s election results were unprecedented – both in terms of the scale of the defeat and the consequences of that failure. For the first time in our country’s history, nationalists are in power in every corner of the United Kingdom – including a dangerous English nationalism represented by Nigel Farage and Reform UK. This represents both an existential threat to the future integrity of the United Kingdom, but Reform UK also represent a threat to the values and ideals that have made this country great.”
Streeting says govt has 'drift' where it needs 'direction'
13:19 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIn his resignation letter Wes Streeting has said the government has “drift” where it needs “direction”.
“Where we need vision, we have a vacuum,” he wrote. “Where we need direction, we have drift. This was underscored by your speech on Monday.
“Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords. You also need to listen to your colleagues, including backbenchers, and the heavy-handed approach to dissenting voices diminishes our politics.”
Streeting fires starting gun for possible leadership race with resignation letter
13:10 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
After much toing and froing - and rumours that he had bottled it - Wes Streeting has finally fired the starting gun of a leadership race, announcing his resignation as health secretary.
His decision to quit suggests that he has got enough support (the required backing of 81 MPs) to trigger a leadership race. But the letter itself doesn't officially trigger a contest, nor does it explicitly say whether he has enough backing.
In the wake of his excoriating letter, all eyes will now be on Streeting to see whether he announces an official challenge to the prime minister.
But even then, all is not lost for Starmer - as just hours before Streeting's resignation fresh polling of Labour members was published which suggested that the beleaguered PM would win a landslide victory against his former health secretary. It was only against Angela Rayner, Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband that the prime minister would lose, the polling showed.
Wes Streeting resigns as health secretary
13:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWes Streeting has resigned as health secretary.
It comes amid mounting speculation Mr Streeting is set to launch a leadership challenge against the prime minister.
Sir Keir Starmer stated on Wednesday that he retained “full confidence” in Mr Streeting.
But the prime minister must now face the growing threat of a leadership challenge from a man who has been a key member of his Cabinet.
No 10 declines to comment on Rayner's potential return to government
12:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDowning Street declined to comment on Angela Rayner’s announcement she has been cleared by HMRC, despite Sir Keir Starmer previously suggesting there was a path back to government for her if she were exonerated.
Asked whether there was a route back for her or whether there were still question marks over her underpayment of stamp duty, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “I think you’re asking about hypothetical Cabinet change, which I’m not going to engage in.”
He added: “It’s not for me to comment on an individual’s tax affairs, and as I say, she’s addressed quite a lot about herself this morning.”
Starmer ‘getting on’ with delivering change, Downing Street insists
12:35 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:
Sir Keir Starmer is “getting on with the business of delivering change” in the face of talks of a leadership coup in his cabinet.
Downing Street insisted the prime minister “purely focused on governing” amid rumours Wes Streeting is to launch a challenge as early as today.
His former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner also appeared to pave the way for a potential bid today, as she confirmed she had been cleared of deliberate wrongdoing following an investigation into her tax affairs.
The prime minister’s spokesman declined to comment on the announcement, and when asked whether it marked a route back to government for Ms Rayner said: “I think you’re asking about hypothetical cabinet change, which I’m not going to engage in.”
Burnham supporters briefed to emphasise need for 'a dignified transition' for PM
12:27 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
With the steam appearing to go out of a potential leadership bid by health secretary Wes Streeting this morning, supporters of the Greater Manchester mayor are laying the groundwork for his return.
Supporters have been briefed to emphasise the need for “a dignified transition” for Keir Starmer and for a replacement to be announced at the party conference in late September.
This would give Mr Burnham more than enough time to find a seat to stand and get back in parliament to contest the leadership contest.
It is understood that a seat has been agreed in principle where Labour are projected to see off both the Greens and Reform.
The briefing also reflects a growing feeling that Sir Keir should not be humiliated by this process and just ousted quickly.
A slow “orderly transition” allows him time to build his own legacy.
Housing secretary arrives at Downing Street
12:20 , Nicole Wootton-CaneHousing secretary Steve Reed has arrived at Downing Street this afternoon.
He ignored questions from reporters as he entered No 10.
Where we stand at lunchtime as PM vows to fight on
12:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIt has been a morning of swirling speculation in Westminster, but very little concrete has actually emerged.
Here’s where we stand this lunchtime:
• Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to “fight on” and will contest any leadership challenge, Downing Street said this afternoon
• Wes Streeting, who was widely expected to launch a leadership bid this morning, has remained silent as allies say the situation is “shifting” but insist he has the numbers
• Angela Rayner says she has been exonerated of any wrongdoing over her tax affairs following an investigation by HMRC, paving her way to mount a leadership challenge - although she told the Guardian she would not trigger one herself
• The prime minister has said he still has full confidence in Mr Streeting in his role as health secretary
• It has been reported that senior Cabinet ministers are planning to meet the prime minister and urge him to resign this afternoon, but the reports have been denied by allies of Mr Streeting and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham
PM has full confidence in Streeting as health secretary, No 10 says
12:10 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDowning Street said the prime minister retains confidence in Wes Streeting as Health Secretary and the “position hasn’t changed” since Wednesday.
Asked whether Mr Streeting remained in his Cabinet post, Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said: “Yes.”
Asked whether the prime minister had full confidence in him, the official said: “Yes, the position hasn’t changed.”
Wes Streeting would lose leadership contest against Keir Starmer, poll shows
12:05 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Sir Keir Starmer would win a landslide victory in a leadership race against Wes Streeting, new polling of Labour members has shown - in a blow to the health secretary's ambitions.
Polling, conducted by Survation for LabourList, indicated that Mr Streeting would take just 23 per cent of the vote, compared to 53 per cent for Starmer.
Despite the pair having around equal support in November last year, Sir Keir now holds a 34-point lead over the health secretary.
According to the polling, the prime minister would also win a head-to-head contest against Al Carns, Darren Jones, Bridget Phillipson, Louise Haigh, Yvette Cooper, Shabana Mahmood and Lucy Powell.
But he would lose against Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband.
More Mandelson files ‘set to be released next week’ in yet another blow to Starmer
12:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer could be facing renewed pressure as a result of the Peter Mandelson scandal, as the next tranche of files is said to be expected as early as next week.
The prime minister – who is clinging on to his premiership amid growing calls to resign – has been constantly embattled by the fallout of his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.
The former Labour peer was sacked last September when new information about his links to Jeffrey Epstein emerged, but the scandal has threatened to bring down the government several times since then.
You can read more below:
More Mandelson files ‘set to be released next week’ in yet another blow to Starmer
Rayner tax issues explained after HMRC clears leadership contender of wrongdoing
11:50 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAngela Rayner says she has been cleared of wrongdoing by HMRC over her tax affairs amid speculation that she may be mounting a leadership bid against Sir Keir Starmer.
She has reportedly settled £40,000 in unpaid stamp duty on her £800,000 flat in Hove after incorrectly paying a lower rate, but has not been made to pay a penalty by the tax authority. HMRC is understood to have concluded there was no tax avoidance.
The former deputy prime minister and housing secretary resigned from her positions in September following intense scrutiny over the issue.
You can read more about the tax problem that landed her in hot water and why HMRC has closed its investigation below:
Rayner tax issues explained after HMRC clears her of wrongdoing
PM will fight on, Downing Street says
11:40 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer continues to insist he will fight on, Downing Street said amid threats of a leadership challenge.
No 10 pointed to his comment at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting that “the Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered”.
Questions are swirling about whether Wes Streeting has the number of supporters needed to force a race, as allies of the Health Secretary were briefing he may be delaying his expected leadership campaign launch because of the growing pressure on Sir Keir to step down.
Streeting struggling to get numbers amid shifting situation, reports say
11:36 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWes Streeting may be struggling to shore up support to challenge Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership amid a shifting situation, reports have suggested.
The health secretary was expected to launch a leadership bid this morning. But news Angela Rayner has been cleared of any wrongdoing over her tax affairs may have significantly changed the situation, it has been claimed.
Senior minister denies rumours he is telling MPs PM will stand down
11:32 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSources close to Darren Jones denied rumours that he is telling MPs Sir Keir Starmer is going to step down.
Allies of Health Secretary Wes Streeting were briefing that he has the numbers to trigger a leadership contest and that the prime minister could be preparing to go.
Asked whether Mr Jones has been relaying that information to colleagues, a source close to the prime minister’s Chief Secretary said: “No. He spent six hours last night talking MPs down and I’ve been briefing all morning Wes is well short on numbers.”
They also said Mr Streeting’s team is “up to mischief because they know he’s short on numbers”.
Security minister reviewing national threat level
11:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSecurity minister Dan Jarvis said he has “initiated a review of the national threat level system” so that “it remains fully relevant” to the current context.
Making a statement about national security, Mr Jarvis told the Commons: “On April 30, the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTac) raised the UK national terrorism threat level from substantial to severe.
“The decision to change the UK’s terrorism threat level is taken independently of ministers based on the very latest intelligence. Severe means that a terrorist attack is highly likely in the next six months.
“The threat level was last at severe from November 2021 until February 2022.
“This increase in the threat from terrorism follows the recent stabbing attack in Golders Green but it is not solely as a result of that attack – the terrorism threat in the UK has been gradually increasing.
“It is driven primarily by the broader Islamist and extreme right-wing terrorist threat from individuals and small groups based here in the UK.”
Mr Jarvis later added: “I’ve also initiated a review of the national threat level system, which currently captures only the threat from terrorism, to ensure that it remains fully relevant and that we are communicating as clearly as possible with the public about the national security threats that we face today.”
Why the path to No 10 is not an easy one for any of Starmer’s would-be challengers
11:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer has insisted he is getting on with the business of governing the UK as he faces the greatest challenge to his leadership since taking office.
The prime minister is facing mounting pressure to stand down as ministers resign and dozens of Labour MPs call on him to quit.
As his woes deepen by the hour, one of the reasons he is still in place is that the path to No 10 will not be an easy one for any of his would-be challengers.
You can read why below:
Why the path to No 10 is not an easy one for any of Starmer’s would-be challengers
Watch: Streeting 'may not have numbers' for leadership challenge, Corbyn says
11:05 , Nicole Wootton-CaneStreeting leaves everyone guessing with NHS statement
10:50 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
The "will he, won't he?" guessing game on if and when health secretary Wes Streeting will quit the government to launch a leadership bid has not been answered by his first statement of the day.
Mr Streeting reacted to positive NHS data which revealed the government has met its interim target of seeing 65 per cent of patients within 18 weeks.
Mr Streeting gave no hint of his ambitions in his statement welcoming the news.
He said: “Lots done, lots more to do.”
It means the waiting continues over whether Sir Keir Starmer will face a leadership challenge.