(Sharecast News) - UK Health Secretary West Streeting on Thursday quit his post, saying it was "now clear" that unpopular Prime Minister Keir Starmer would not lead the Labour Party into the next general election and called on him to stand down to allow a leadership contest.
However, Streeting did not formally announce he was triggering a leadership ballot - any challenger would need the support of at least 81 MPs, indicating at this stage he did not have the numbers required.

He said Labour MPs and trades Unions "want a debate about what comes next to be a battle of ideas, not of personalities or petty factionalism" and called for a broad ballot with "the best possible field of candidates" - suggesting he wants Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to be returned as an MP to compete in any contest.

In a scathing resignation letter, the key Cabinet minister said he had "lost confidence" in Starmer's leadership adding that "it would be dishonourable and unprincipled" to stay in the government.

"Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift. This was underscored by your speech on Monday," Streeting wrote in a reference to Starmer's failed attempt to restore faith in his administration after a disastrous showing in local council elections last week that saw the far-right Reform Party make strong gains.

"Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords. You also need to listen to your colleagues, including backbenchers, and the heavy-handed approach to dissenting voices diminishes our politics."

"Last week's election results were unprecedented - both in terms of the scale of the defeat and the consequences of that failure. For the first time in our country's history, nationalists are in power in every corner of the United Kingdom - including a dangerous English nationalism represented by Nigel Farage and Reform UK."

If Starmer doesn't resign he would automatically be on the ballot paper in any contest, and he has made it clear that he would not stand down. The prime minister faces record-low popularity ratings, only two years after he came into office with a historic majority.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com

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