Wes Streeting resigns from UK Government

Wes Streeting has resigned as UK health secretary, saying he has “lost confidence” in Keir Starmer’s leadership.

He is the first cabinet minister to resign since Labour suffered heavy defeats in the Scottish, Welsh, and English local elections.  

In a letter to the prime minister, he warned of the “existential threat to the future integrity of the United Kingdom” brought on by nationalist parties controlling the country’s three main devolved governments, as well as “dangerous English nationalism represented by Nigel Farage and Reform UK”.

Streeting said it would be “dishonourable and unprincipled” to remain in government.  

Commenting on newly published figures relating to NHS targets set by Keir Starmer, the former health secretary said he had “delivered against the ambitious targets you set for me”.  

However, he said: “These are all good reasons for me to remain in post, but as you know from our conversation earlier this week, having lost confidence in your leadership, I have concluded that it would be dishonourable and unprincipled to do so.

“Last week's election results were unprecedented – both in terms of the scale of the defeat and the consequences of that failure. For the first time in our country's history, nationalists are in power in every corner of the United Kingdom – including a dangerous English nationalism represented by Nigel Farage and Reform UK.  

“This represents both an existential threat to the future integrity of the United Kingdom, but Reform UK also represent a threat to the values and ideals that have made this country great. Progressives across our country understand this threat and our responsibility to confront it, but they are increasingly losing faith that the Labour Party is capable of rising to our historic responsibility of defeating racism and offering hope that Britain's best days lie ahead through social democracy.”

Streeting told the prime minister that there is “no doubt” that the UK Government’s “unpopularity” was “a major and common factor in our defeats across England, Scotland and Wales”.

He also suggested that many reasons could point to this unpopularity, including the decision to cut the winter fuel payment for pensioners and Keir Starmer’s speech, where he warned of the UK becoming an “island of strangers” when referring to illegal immigration into the country, “all of which have left the country not knowing who we are or what we really stand for”.

Streeting commended Starmer for leading Labour to the landslide victory in the general election in 2024, and said he has “shown courage and statesmanship on the world stage – not least in keeping Britain out of the war in Iran”.

Streeting said: “But where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift. This was underscored by your speech on Monday. Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords. You also need to listen to your colleagues, including backbenchers, and the heavy-handed approach to dissenting voices diminishes our politics.

He added: “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.”

Over the last few days, reports have suggested that Streeting, along with the former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, energy secretary Ed Miliband, and Labour MP Al Carns had been considering a running for leadership if a contest was brought forward.  

SNP health spokesperson Seamus Logan MP said: “This isn't government, this is chaos. The eventual resignation of Peter Mandelson's right-wing pal Wes Streeting is a sure sign that Keir Starmer's Labour Party is preparing to go from bad to worse.

“In the middle of a cost-of-living emergency, the Labour Party are openly telling people that their focus will be on fighting amongst themselves instead of fighting to cut people's energy and fuel bills.”