Former UK minister Streeting says he could challenge PM Starmer next week

Labour's Wes Streeting is prepared to trigger a leadership contest to replace Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, citing the need for a speedy end to "uncertainty and paralysis".

Former British health minister Wes Streeting told ​the BBC he would be ​prepared to trigger a Labour leadership ‌contest to ​replace Keir Starmer as Prime Minister as soon as next week, urging a speedy end to the "uncertainty and ‌paralysis". Streeting, who has said he has the backing of the 81 Labour lawmakers which are needed to trigger a challenge, told BBC Newsnight that he thought a contest should be ‌initiated sooner rather than later.

The Labour Party is waiting to see if Andy ‌Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, can win a local election in Makerfield on Thursday to return to parliament, where he would become the frontrunner in any challenge to Starmer. "I think the prime minister should be ⁠given ​some space and time to ⁠reflect over the weekend and I think we should see where we are then," Streeting said.

Starmer has ⁠repeatedly said he would fight to keep his job and that a leadership contest was ​not the right thing for the country. Streeting disagreed. "We can't carry on with this ⁠uncertainty and paralysis," he said.

"I would prefer the PM to take a decision on his own terms rather ⁠than ​leave it for me or Andy or anyone else to trigger a contest." Streeting quit last month in protest at the prime minister's record, turning up the heat ⁠on Starmer, and leading to speculation that a leadership challenge was likely in the coming months.

In ⁠a further ⁠blow to Starmer's authority, the highly respected defence minister, John Healey, resigned last week, accompanied by a scathing critique of Starmer's record in allocating ‌funds to ‌increase defence spending.