Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was struggling to hold on to power after his main rival in the Government resigned on May 14, accusing him of political drift, and others positioned themselves for potential challenges to his leadership, reported Reuters.
Drubbing for the Labour Party in local elections have plunged Britain into a new crisis, just under two years after Starmer won a large majority on a vow to bring stability and end a decade of political chaos.
After days of calls by Labour lawmakers for Starmer to quit or set out a timetable for his departure, Wes Streeting resigned as Health Minister, the first senior minister to quit the Government. He said he was standing down because “it is now clear you will not lead the Labour Party i n t o the next general election”.
Starmer responded with a letter expressing regret Streeting had stepped down, saying “it is incumbent on all of us to rise to what I see as a battle for the soul of our nation” and “turn the page on the chaos”.
He swiftly appointed one of his supporters, James Murray, as Streeting’s replacement. While Streeting did not trigger a formal contest, potential rivals to the prime minister, such as Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, started positioning themselves for a possible leadership challenge that Starmer has said he will fight. According to BBC, Streeting has thrown his support behind Andy Burnham’s bid to contest the Makerfield by-election. “We need our best players on the pitch. There is no doubt that Andy Burnham is one of them,” he says on X.
Streeting criticised his former boss in a resignation letter which said he was standing down to allow a wide debate about what comes next, one which the Labour movement wanted to focus on ideas rather than personalities or factions. “It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates,” Streeting wrote.
Vision needed
“Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift,” Streeting said in pointed remarks about Starmer. “Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords.” A source close to Streeting said the former health minister had enough support to mount a formal leadership challenge but had not triggered an immediate contest because he felt it would be preferable for Starmer to set out an orderly timetable.
