UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting Resigns and Announces Leadership Challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer

May 17, 2026

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned on May 14, 2026, and confirmed on May 17 that he would challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for Labour leadership if the required 81 MPs trigger a contest. Starmer faces mounting pressure after Labour lost nearly 1,500 councillors in England and suffered heavy losses in Wales and Scotland during May 7, 2026 elections, though more than 150 Labour MPs still support him. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham was cleared on May 16 to stand in the June 18 Makerfield by-election, which he must win to become an MP and eligible for the leadership race under party rules. Streeting used his resignation to urge Starmer to set a departure timetable and declared Brexit a catastrophic mistake, calling for eventual EU rejoining.

Streeting leadership challenge

▪Wes Streeting said the Labour Party could have rushed into a leadership contest but doing so without giving Andy Burnham the chance to stand would mean a new leader would lack legitimacy.
▪Wes Streeting said 81 Labour MPs are needed to trigger a Labour leadership contest.
▪Wes Streeting resigned as UK health secretary on May 14, 2026.
▪Wes Streeting confirmed on May 17, 2026 that Wes Streeting would enter any potential Labour leadership contest.
▪Wes Streeting told Prime Minister Keir Starmer that Wes Streeting had lost confidence in Keir Starmer.

Brexit reversal position

▪Wes Streeting said on May 17, 2026 that leaving the European Union had been a catastrophic mistake and the UK should one day rejoin the bloc.
▪Wes Streeting said Brexit had left the UK less wealthy, less powerful and less in control than at any point before the Industrial Revolution.

Burnham Makerfield by-election

▪The Makerfield by-election is likely to take place on June 18, 2026.
▪Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham told the BBC on May 17, 2026 that Andy Burnham was seeking to stand in the Makerfield by-election to save the Labour Party.
▪Andy Burnham was cleared on May 16, 2026 to stand in the Makerfield by-election by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee.
▪Andy Burnham must become an MP to join a Labour leadership contest under Labour Party rules.
▪Wes Streeting told voters thinking about backing Andy Burnham to vote for Andy Burnham in Makerfield.
▪The Makerfield constituency's current MP said the MP would vacate the seat to make way for Andy Burnham.

Starmer leadership pressure

▪More than 150 Labour MPs have indicated support for Prime Minister Keir Starmer or said it was not the right time for a leadership contest.
▪Prime Minister Keir Starmer is resisting calls to stand down and set a timetable for Keir Starmer's departure.
▪Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced mounting pressure from MPs to resign following elections on May 7, 2026 which saw Labour lose almost 1,500 councillors in England.
▪Labour suffered heavy losses in Wales and Scotland's national elections on May 7, 2026.

Labour Party internal divisions

▪Andy Burnham said on May 17, 2026 that Labour needs to be part of working class people.
▪Wes Streeting spoke to reporters at a conference hosted by Labour-aligned political organisation Progress on May 17, 2026.