Wes Streeting’s leadership bid warning to Starmer

PoliticsOpinion
17 Jun 2026 • 3:55 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Wes Streeting’s leadership bid warning to Starmer

  • Wes Streeting has issued a stark warning to Sir Keir Starmer, indicating he is prepared to launch a Labour leadership contest as early as next week.
  • Mr Streeting's ultimatum is contingent on Andy Burnham securing victory in this week’s Makerfield by-election, prompting calls for Sir Keir to establish a timeline for his departure.
  • The former health secretary asserted he commands the support of 80 MPs, the threshold required to enter a leadership contest, and publicly criticised Sir Keir for failing to heed party and Cabinet concerns.
  • Sir Keir Starmer, facing threats to his leadership, declared his intention to defy critics and “carry on with what I was elected to do” to serve the country.
  • Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner praised Mr Burnham’s by-election campaign, noting it was “hard to escape the feeling that the public have had towards Keir”.

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