Wes Streeting has confirmed he will stand in the Labour leadership contest following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation, according to a close ally. The former Health Secretary is positioning himself as a contender despite widespread speculation that Andy Burnham is the frontrunner after his landslide victory in the Makerfield by-election.
Streeting Ally Confirms Leadership Bid
A source close to Streeting told Sky News: "Wes is standing, had the numbers, and will be a contender." The ally added that many Labour MPs are wary of a coronation and want to hear candidates set out their visions. "Speaking to MPs over the weekend, it's clear that many don't want a coronation, they want to hear people set out their stall, and many of those want to see more of what Wes had to say."
Political pundits have largely tipped Andy Burnham, the former Manchester mayor, as the next Labour leader following his decisive by-election win. However, Streeting's camp insists he has the support needed to mount a serious challenge.
Farage Calls for General Election
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, immediately called for a general election after Starmer's resignation. In a Substack blog post, Farage said: "Starmer isn't the first Prime Minister I've deposed, and he won't be the last. David Cameron. Theresa May. Rishi Sunak. And next up – Andy Burnham. The reason each leader has failed is the same."
Farage argued that the political class fails to understand that voters will not accept being taken for granted. "They cannot continue to take the votes of the people who supported them for granted, only to betray them upon having gained power. Politics is about trust. That is why I am calling for a general election at the soonest possible date. You know as well as I do that the country cannot afford to waste another week drifting from crisis to crisis."
He referenced the party's success in local elections and over 300 opinion poll leads, claiming Reform UK has broad public support.
Starmer's Resignation Speech
In his resignation speech, Starmer reflected on his tenure: "Six years ago I inherited a Labour Party that was politically, financially and morally bankrupt. I was told time and time again that my party was finished. That we were consigned to history. That a majority at the general election let alone a landslide majority was impossible. But we proved those people wrong. Because we changed our party. Ripping out the poison of anti-Semitism, restoring trust on the economy, defence and national security and becoming a party that once again stood proudly with not against our national flag."
The leadership contest is expected to intensify in the coming weeks as candidates formally declare their bids.
