All articles tagged with #keir starmer
Tony Blair's lengthy 5,000-word meditation on Labour’s direction questions Keir Starmer’s leadership and fuels a clash with potential rivals Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting, highlighting tensions between market-oriented reform and a return to broader left-right policy mixes ahead of a pivotal by-election.
The UK will extend the 5p cut in fuel duty until the end of the year, at a cost of about £455m this tax year, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer cites Middle East-related price pressures. The government will also cut red diesel to 6.48p per litre from mid-next month through year-end for farmers and provide a 12-month Vehicle Excise Duty holiday for HGVs, saving around £600 per truck. The RAC warns there’s uncertainty about next year’s plan, while critics frame the move as a political U-turn and supporters say it relieves drivers and businesses amid high prices.
Wes Streeting resigns as health secretary and announces he will stand to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader and prime minister after Labour suffered poor local election results, signaling a likely leadership contest even as Starmer vows to stay on.
Wes Streeting resigns from government to run for Labour leadership, while Andy Burnham pursues a bid that could require a by‑election, triggering a contest to replace Keir Starmer. While a summer contest is plausible, timing and whether Starmer stays or stands are uncertain. The government faces domestic pressures (defence spending, energy bills, online safety, NHS staffing) and international challenges (Hormuz, NATO, EU relations) under the shadow of leadership turmoil.
Labour’s NEC has cleared Andy Burnham to seek selection as Labour’s candidate in the Makerfield by-election, which could see him return to Westminster and potentially challenge Keir Starmer for the leadership. The by-election is expected around 18 June after MP Josh Simons resigned; Burnham cannot enter a leadership contest until he becomes an MP. The development intensifies speculation about Labour’s future leadership amid surrounding calls for Starmer to step down and suggestions from allies and rivals about who could run.
In a 12-hour burst of activity, Angela Rayner’s tax-clearance interviews, Wes Streeting’s resignation from the cabinet, and Andy Burnham’s move to back a Makerfield by-election roiled Labour, weakening Keir Starmer and signaling a potential leadership challenge even though no formal contest has begun.
Starmer faces a five-path crisis: he could stand down; Streeting could trigger a leadership contest without Burnham; Burnham could win the Makerfield by-election and mount a leadership bid; Burnham could win the by-election and force Starmer out; or Burnham could lose the by-election, prolonging Labour’s paralysis and opening the field to other contenders such as Streeting and Rayner.
Labour faces internal turmoil after local-election losses and resignations spark calls for Sir Keir Starmer to quit; potential challengers include Angela Rayner, Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham, while Starmer insists he will govern. A leadership contest would require 81 MPs backing a candidate, and more than 150 MPs have signalled support for him or said it’s not the time.
UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigns from Prime Minister Keir Starmer's cabinet, signaling a potential leadership challenge as Labour faces pressure from local election losses. Streeting praises NHS gains but argues there is a leadership vacuum, with figures like Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham viewed as possible contenders; any leadership bid would require substantial MP backing under Labour rules while Starmer defends his leadership amid Britain’s political turbulence.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting quits Keir Starmer’s cabinet, signaling a likely leadership challenge as Labour faces backlash from local election losses; potential rivals include Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham, with Streeting accusing Starmer of lacking vision and direction.
Wes Streeting has quit as health secretary, saying he has lost confidence in Keir Starmer’s leadership and that remaining in government would be dishonourable. The move, coming amid Labour leadership speculation after election setbacks, does not declare a leadership bid, but it could spark renewed discussions about replacing Starmer. Streeting’s resignation follows a broader Labour revolt and comes as NHS data show a significant drop in waiting lists, a point cited by supporters as a sign of progress under his tenure.
Angela Rayner says HMRC has cleared her of wrongdoing over stamp duty tax affairs, potentially paving the way for a Labour leadership bid as Wes Streeting’s allies push to challenge Keir Starmer; Starmer warns a leadership contest could cause chaos, with MPs needing 81 backing to trigger a ballot amid last week’s ministerial resignations.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a mutiny within Labour as Parliament opens in ceremonial fashion with King Charles III delivering the King's Speech—outlining the government’s agenda—for the new session, a display of royal pageantry amid questions over whether Starmer will still lead the government after a difficult spell and internal party pressure.
A BBC snapshot of potential Labour leadership challengers to Keir Starmer shows no contest yet, but momentum exists: Wes Streeting is seen as the party’s best communicator with cabinet backing; Andy Burnham is popular with voters but would need to re-enter Parliament; Angela Rayner remains a left-leaning contender, with Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood also mentioned as possibilities. Starmer has said no leadership contest has been triggered and would stand if one emerged.
Starmer defends his leadership after Labour's local-election drubbing and multiple cabinet resignations, saying he will continue governing; with dozens of Labour MPs calling for change, no leadership challenge has been triggered, and the party faces ongoing debate over its direction amid Reform UK gains.