UK PM Starmer Faces Internal Challenge, Health Secretary Reportedly Preparing to Resign and Contest Leadership
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a leadership crisis within the Labour Party. Following a major defeat in local elections, it's reported that Health Secretary Wes Streeting is preparing to resign to challenge for the party leadership, deepening the party's internal divisions.
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- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 22:07
- 🔍 Collected: May 13, 2026 at 22:32 (25 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 13, 2026 at 23:00 (28 min after Collected)
(Central News Agency, London, May 13, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Britain's King Charles III delivered the "King's Speech" at a grand ceremony today, outlining Prime Minister Keir Starmer's legislative agenda. However, Starmer is facing an internal challenge, and today it was reported that Health Secretary Wes Streeting is preparing to resign to challenge for the party leadership.
The content of the "King's Speech," reported by AFP, is not written by King Charles III but drafted by the government to detail the bills it intends to push in the next 12 months.
After the ruling Labour Party's crushing defeat in local elections, there has been open debate within the party about whether the unpopular Starmer should step down. The King's Speech and its lavish traditions could have served as a brief respite.
However, British media reported before the King's Speech that allies of Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was preparing to resign to launch a leadership challenge against Starmer.
Although four junior ministers resigned yesterday and the number of MPs calling for Starmer's resignation exceeded 80, he averted an immediate crisis as no one chose to step forward to launch a leadership challenge.
Before the King's Speech today, Starmer met with Streeting at the Prime Minister's residence on Downing Street, in what the British media described as a "showdown." But the meeting ended in less than 20 minutes, and Streeting left without comment.
Streeting is popular with the right wing of the Labour Party, but left-wing MPs dislike him, preferring former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner or Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham for the leadership, although both face some obstacles to running.
Furthermore, about 110 Labour MPs have signed a letter supporting the Prime Minister, stating that now is not the time for a leadership contest, highlighting the deep divisions within the party. Starmer's team hopes to use this to maintain power.
But Starmer faced another major setback today, as trade union organizations that support Labour and have a say in its decisions stated that a plan must be made to elect a new leader.
The Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison Organisation (TULO), which represents 11 trade unions, said: "It is clear that the Prime Minister will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election."
However, the next general election is not expected until 2029. (Compiled by: Yang Chao-yen) 1150513
The content of the "King's Speech," reported by AFP, is not written by King Charles III but drafted by the government to detail the bills it intends to push in the next 12 months.
After the ruling Labour Party's crushing defeat in local elections, there has been open debate within the party about whether the unpopular Starmer should step down. The King's Speech and its lavish traditions could have served as a brief respite.
However, British media reported before the King's Speech that allies of Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was preparing to resign to launch a leadership challenge against Starmer.
Although four junior ministers resigned yesterday and the number of MPs calling for Starmer's resignation exceeded 80, he averted an immediate crisis as no one chose to step forward to launch a leadership challenge.
Before the King's Speech today, Starmer met with Streeting at the Prime Minister's residence on Downing Street, in what the British media described as a "showdown." But the meeting ended in less than 20 minutes, and Streeting left without comment.
Streeting is popular with the right wing of the Labour Party, but left-wing MPs dislike him, preferring former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner or Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham for the leadership, although both face some obstacles to running.
Furthermore, about 110 Labour MPs have signed a letter supporting the Prime Minister, stating that now is not the time for a leadership contest, highlighting the deep divisions within the party. Starmer's team hopes to use this to maintain power.
But Starmer faced another major setback today, as trade union organizations that support Labour and have a say in its decisions stated that a plan must be made to elect a new leader.
The Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison Organisation (TULO), which represents 11 trade unions, said: "It is clear that the Prime Minister will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election."
However, the next general election is not expected until 2029. (Compiled by: Yang Chao-yen) 1150513