Starmer’s government spirals into chaos as Streeting quits the Cabinet
Wes Streeting has resigned as Health Secretary after declaring he has “lost confidence” in Keir Starmer, plunging Labour deeper into an escalating civil war over the Prime Minister’s future.
The resignation followed days of mounting speculation that the Ilford North MP was preparing a leadership challenge after Labour’s disastrous local election results.
Despite repeated assurances from Downing Street that Sir Keir retained Mr Streeting’s “full confidence”, the Health Secretary used his resignation letter to deliver a devastating verdict on the Prime Minister’s leadership.
Mr Streeting wrote that it was “now clear” Sir Keir would not lead Labour into the next general election.
pic.twitter.com/9qI2Bj35ZK
— Wes Streeting (@wesstreeting) May 14, 2026
The resignation is widely being interpreted in Westminster as the opening move in a formal leadership battle, with Labour MPs and affiliated unions increasingly demanding a contest over the party’s future direction.
In his letter, Mr Streeting acknowledged that recent NHS improvements and falling waiting lists gave him “all good reasons” to remain in government.
However, he added: “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.”
The departing Health Secretary said Labour now needed to “reconnect with working people” and rebuild public trust before the next election.
“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,” he wrote.
“It needs to be broad, and it needs to be the best possible field of candidates. I support that approach and I hope you will continue to facilitate it.”
Although Mr Streeting stopped short of formally launching a leadership campaign, his resignation is expected to intensify speculation over his ambitions.
The growing crisis comes after Labour suffered catastrophic local election losses, fuelling unrest across the parliamentary party and triggering fresh questions over Sir Keir’s authority.
Potential contenders frequently discussed in Westminster include Angela Rayner, Ed Miliband and Andy Burnham, while ministers and backbench MPs continue manoeuvring behind the scenes as pressure mounts on the Prime Minister.
