UK Health Secretary Resigns, Citing Loss of Confidence in Prime Minister's Leadership
UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has resigned, citing a loss of confidence in Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership. The move is seen as paving the way for a challenge to Starmer's position as party leader.
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- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 23:13
- 🔍 Collected: May 14, 2026 at 23:32 (18 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 15, 2026 at 03:37 (4h 5m after Collected)
(CNA, London, 14th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced his resignation today, a move that undoubtedly paves the way for his challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership.
AFP reports that Streeting published his resignation letter to Starmer on the social media platform X, in which he wrote: "It is clear that you can no longer lead the Labour Party into the next general election."
He added that he had "lost confidence" in Starmer's leadership and that the debate within the ruling party about its future direction "must be broad and must have the best possible field of candidates."
The 43-year-old Streeting did not say whether he had secured the support of the 81 Labour MPs required to launch a challenge. According to the rules, the support of 20% of Labour MPs is needed to initiate a leadership contest.
Starmer led the Labour Party to a landslide victory in the 2024 general election, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. However, he is struggling to hold on to the premiership after a disastrous defeat in last week's local elections.
Currently, four parliamentary under-secretaries have resigned, and more than 80 Labour MPs have urged Starmer to step down, but he has vowed to stay on, and more than 100 MPs in the ruling party have expressed their support for him to continue. (Compiled by: Liu Shu-chin) 1150514
AFP reports that Streeting published his resignation letter to Starmer on the social media platform X, in which he wrote: "It is clear that you can no longer lead the Labour Party into the next general election."
He added that he had "lost confidence" in Starmer's leadership and that the debate within the ruling party about its future direction "must be broad and must have the best possible field of candidates."
The 43-year-old Streeting did not say whether he had secured the support of the 81 Labour MPs required to launch a challenge. According to the rules, the support of 20% of Labour MPs is needed to initiate a leadership contest.
Starmer led the Labour Party to a landslide victory in the 2024 general election, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. However, he is struggling to hold on to the premiership after a disastrous defeat in last week's local elections.
Currently, four parliamentary under-secretaries have resigned, and more than 80 Labour MPs have urged Starmer to step down, but he has vowed to stay on, and more than 100 MPs in the ruling party have expressed their support for him to continue. (Compiled by: Liu Shu-chin) 1150514