Starmer leadership latest: Streeting resigns from cabinet ahead of expected challenge to PM

The 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 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.

Downing 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.”

The 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.”

The 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 Steve Reed has arrived at Downing Street this afternoon.

He ignored questions from reporters as he entered No 10.

It 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

Downing 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.”

The 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.

Sir 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.