Wes Streeting resigns as Health Secretary
Wes Streeting. (Getty)
Wes Streeting has resigned as Health Secretary in a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and is likely set to challenge for leadership of the Labour party.
After Labour saw a sharp decline at 7 May’s local elections, Starmer has faced calls to step down as prime minister. However he has so far showed no sign of doing so.
In a letter to Starmer, published on X, Streeting celebrated improvements in the NHS before turning to the prime minister’s time as leader of the Labour Party.
He wrote: “Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift.”
Streeting told Starmer: “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 the best possible field of candidates.
“I support that approach and I hope that you will facilitate this.”
He finished: “Serving as your Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has been the greatest joy of my life and, regardless of our differences this week, I remain truly grateful to you for the opportunity to serve and I am deeply saddened to be leaving government in this way.”
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