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 an end to "uncertainty and paralysis".

Britain's ​former health minister, Wes Streeting, said 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 needed to trigger a challenge, told BBC Newsnight late on Tuesday he thought a contest should be initiated ‌sooner rather than later. But Starmer, speaking at the G7 summit in Evian, repeated on Wednesday that ‌he would fight to stay in his job if a formal challenge was launched against his leadership.

"If there is a challenge, I intend to fight in any challenge to my leadership," Starmer said. "I don't think ⁠there should ​be a challenge, ⁠because I think that is a bad thing for the country."

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. Streeting, who quit ⁠last month in protest at the prime minister's record, said he wanted Starmer to take "time to reflect over the ⁠weekend ​and I think we should see where we are then".

"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 ... We can't carry on with this uncertainty ⁠and paralysis." 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.