UK PM Starmer faces pressure as Streeting challenge looms

Keir Starmer deflected demands for his resignation during Wednesday's House of Commons debate on the King's Speech, pressing ahead with his legislative agenda while Health Secretary Wes Streeting positioned himself to challenge for the Labour leadership. Streeting met the prime minister at Downing Street earlier that day for less than 20 minutes, fueling speculation that a formal bid to replace Starmer could materialize as early as Thursday.

The BBC reported that allies of the health secretary expect him to trigger a leadership contest, which under Labour Party rules requires the backing of 81 parliament members to proceed. Starmer would automatically qualify as a candidate in any such contest, party officials noted.

Streeting camp responds

A spokesperson for Streeting sought to downplay the speculation, telling The Times that the health secretary remains focused on his ministerial duties. "Wes is the health secretary, he is proud of his record of falling waiting lists and a recovering NHS," the spokesperson said, adding that Streeting does not plan to make statements following his meeting with the prime minister that might distract from the King's Speech.

Downing Street publicly backed Streeting despite the mounting tensions. "I am not going to get into the content of internal meetings, but the prime minister has full confidence in the health secretary," Starmer's official spokesperson told journalists during a briefing following the parliamentary debate.

Opposition attacks Starmer's authority

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told Parliament that Starmer's authority has weakened, declaring that "the Prime Minister is in office, but not in power." She highlighted that nearly 100 Labour lawmakers have publicly demanded Starmer's resignation within the past 48 hours, while four ministers have quit their posts during the same period.

Badenoch criticized the government's legislative program, stating that Starmer lacks the political capital to deliver the measures outlined in the King's Speech. "Winning is easy; governing is harder," she told the House of Commons, pointing to the deepening divisions within the ruling party.

Local election losses fuel discontent

The leadership crisis follows Labour's heavy losses in recent local elections, which intensified internal criticism of Starmer's policy decisions on tax increases and welfare reductions. At least 88 Labour MPs have publicly called for the premier to resign, while more than 110 others have expressed support for him to remain in post.

A supporter of Streeting told the BBC that the health secretary risks political damage if he declines to challenge Starmer after the public speculation. "If he does not challenge Starmer, then we'll have knifed ourselves for nothing," the ally said, according to the broadcaster.