Labour must change course in Government or risk losing power to Reform and aiding the break-up of the United Kingdom, ex-minister Wes Streeting said today in a challenge to Sir Keir Starmer.
In his first Commons appearance since quitting the Cabinet Mr Streeting warned of an ‘existential threat to the UK’ as he set out a thinly-veiled pitch to replace Sir Keir.
Mr Streeting, who stepped down as the health and social care secretary last week, praised the improvement of the NHS while he was in charge of it, saying it had been an ’emotional wrench’ to leave.
He also spoke about reclaiming patriotism from the far-right and his own personal journey including a battle with kidney cancer and his upbringing on ‘a council estate in Stepney’.
But he made little mention of why he resigned and made only a passing mention to Andy Burnham, the favourite to replace Sir Keir if he wins an upcoming by-election.
He was surrounded by a phalanx of supporters, including Jess Phillips, the former safeguarding minister who also quit last week with a barb at the PM.
In his speech, Mr Streeting said there was no ‘time to waste in Government treading water’.
‘I left the Government because we are in the fight of our lives against nationalism, and it is a fight that we are currently losing,’ he said.
‘Unless we change course, we risk handing the keys of No 10 to Reform, and I do not want that on our consciences.’
Mr Streeting, who stepped down as the health and social care secretary last week, praised the improvement of the NHS while he was in charge of it, saying it had been an ’emotional wrench’ to leave
In his first Commons appearance since quitting the Cabinet Mr Streeting warned of an ‘existential threat to the UK’ as he set out a thinly-veiled pitch to replace Sir Keir
He also hit out at the election success of the SNP in Scotland and Plaid Cymru, which ended 27 years of Labour rule in Wales in elections earlier this month, accusing them of being an ‘existential threat to the future integrity of the United Kingdom’.
But he reserved his main firepower for Reform, claiming it would ‘dismantle’ the NHS if elected.
Mr Streeting told MPs: ‘For too long and too often, patriotism in Britain has been left to the loudest voices and the narrowest arguments, as though love of country belongs to one tribe, one party or one point of view.
‘But the Britain I believe in is bigger than that, because patriotism is not about who you exclude, it is about who you stand beside.’
Mr Streeting’s criticism adds pressure on Sir Keir’s premiership, which looks set to be challenged by Mr Burnham if he is successful in his bid to return to Westminster.
The Greater Manchester mayor has been confirmed as Labour’s candidate for the upcoming Makerfield by-election.
Mr Streeting has made clear he intends to stand in any leadership contest.
But the Prime Minister has insisted he will not ‘walk away’ from Downing Street.
