Pressure is mounting on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he faces the biggest internal revolt of his leadership yet. On Wednesday, all eyes were on his health secretary, Wes Streeting, amid speculation he would quit the government and launch a leadership challenge against the British prime minister.
Citing two Labor MPs, Politico said Streeting plans to resign and challenge Starmer. Earlier today, Streeting arrived at Downing Street and met the British Prime Minister in a meeting that lasted less than 20 minutes.
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According to media reports, Streeting is currently one of the most prominent candidates to challenge Starmer, who is reeling from a “devastating” election result and a lingering sense of drift within his administration.
Here is a list of contenders who could replace Starmer as UK Prime Minister
Wes Streeting: He has been health minister since the Starmer-led Labor Party took power in 2024, after serving as shadow health minister in opposition for three years. Streeting was first elected to Parliament in 2015, having previously served as president of the National Union of Students and as a London councillor. He is often regarded as the cabinet’s best communicator, according to reports, and cites falling National Health Service (NHS) waiting lists as a key government achievement.
Politico reported that if a leadership contest were to begin, Streeting could be up against a soft-left candidate more in line with the views of Labor, who would ultimately choose the next party leader and prime minister.
Angela Rayner: Rayner served as Starmer’s deputy prime minister until she was pressured to resign last fall. Having worked closely with the British prime minister in the run-up to power in opposition, her left-wing politics make her a popular choice among Labour. In 2020, she was elected as Starmer’s deputy, making her a powerful figure in the government with her own mandate.
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Rayner, who grew up in poverty and left school at 16 with no qualifications, was considered the most powerful woman in British politics until last year. She worked as a carer before joining the trade union Unison, which later became the springboard for her political career.
Andy Burnham: Like Rayner, Burnham also has strong support from Labor MPs. According to a BBC report, polls suggested he was the most popular Labor politician among voters. Burnham previously served as a cabinet minister in the final years of the last Labor government and ran unsuccessfully for the party leadership twice, in 2010 and 2015, losing the second contest to Jeremy Corbyn. Despite being a popular politician among voters, Burnham’s journey to 10 Downing Street is hampered by the fact that he is not currently serving as an MP. However, his allies hope that this can be rectified as soon as possible.
Ed Miliband: Another prominent figure on Labour’s soft left, the Energy Secretary, is no stranger to leadership battles. Ed Miliband became Labor leader in 2010 after defeating his brother David Miliband, but lost the 2015 general election to the Conservatives. He was a longtime ally of Starmer. Miliband is pushing for a net zero policy and claims it can deliver cheaper domestic energy.
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Why is Starmer facing rebellion?
Starmer, who came to power in 2024 by ending 14 years of Conservative rule with a landslide victory, now faces growing calls for him to be ousted. From securing a massive victory in the 2024 election to losing more than 1,400 seats in the May 7 local elections, the British people are seemingly fed up with the Labor Party. According to Reuters, while incumbents across Europe face similar difficulties, British politics have become even more febrile in the decade since the vote to leave the European Union. Starmer, its sixth leader since then, promised change but struggled to deliver.
However, it remains to be seen whether Starmer, who has so far refused to resign, will eventually resign or whether Labor MPs will continue to support him.
Key things
- The Labor party is facing internal strife with significant election losses leading to calls for Starmer’s resignation.
- Wes Streeting is seen as a prominent leadership contender with the potential to challenge Starmer amid growing discontent.
- The political environment in the UK is changing rapidly, highlighting the need for effective leadership within the Labor Party.
