Wes Streeting confirms he will stand for Labour leader in future contest

Wes Streeting has confirmed he will be standing for Labour leader in a future leadership contest, just days after quitting as health secretary. 

“We need a proper contest with the best candidates on the field and I’ll be standing,” the former Cabinet minister told the Progress conference in London, after giving a speech to party members.

Streeting’s speech was his first public appearance since he quit Keir Starmer’s Cabinet on Thursday and called for a change of leader.

Around 150 people attended the conference in London, which saw MPs, councillors and campaigners reflect on the party’s poor performance in the local and devolved election results last week. 

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It also came after a week that saw close to 100 MPs for Keir Starmer to resign or announce a timetable for his resignation, with Labour now seemingly on the brink of a leadership contest if Andy Burnham can win the upcoming Makerfield by-election and return to the House of Commons.

Party officers on the national executive committee voted on Friday by a majority to allow Burnham to stand in the Greater Manchester contest, which was triggered by the resignation of MP Josh Simons.

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Streeting could face an uphill battle to win the support of members, even if he wins the backing of Labour MPs. Exclusive polling by LabourList suggests that Streeting would lose a direct contest against Burnham, Angela Rayner, Ed Miliband and Lucy Powell.

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