Wes Streeting has confirmed he would stand in any future Labour leadership contest to replace Sir Keir Starmer, saying: “I’ll be standing.”
Speaking publicly for the first time since resigning as Health Secretary, Streeting called for a “proper contest” to decide Labour’s next leader.
When asked directly whether he planned to run, he told reporters: “We need a proper contest with the best candidates on the field, and I will be standing.”
Despite this, Streeting stressed that he was not seeking to trigger an immediate leadership challenge, arguing that it would not be in either the party’s or the country’s interests. He warned that installing a new leader without a full contest could damage their legitimacy and prolong political instability.
He added: “If you believe you’re capable of doing the top job, and you think you have the right ideas for the country, then you should be willing to put those ideas forward, test them against other candidates, and win an election.”
Streeting, who retained Ilford North with a majority of 528 votes at the 2024 General Election, also used the speech to argue that Britain should eventually rejoin the European Union, calling Brexit “a catastrophic mistake”.
He said the Vote Leave campaign had wrongly assumed the UK could thrive independently on the global stage, adding that Brexit had left Britain “less wealthy, less powerful and less in control than at any point before the industrial revolution”.
“We can no longer afford to stay silent about it,” he said. “We need to rebuild the argument.”
Streeting argued that growing global instability, Russian aggression, and the rise of “America First” politics had strengthened the case for closer cooperation with Europe.
“The biggest economic opportunity available to Britain is right on our doorstep,” he said. “We need a new special relationship with the EU because Britain’s future lies with Europe — and one day, back in the European Union.”
Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, another figure frequently linked with the Labour leadership, insisted his immediate focus was on returning to Parliament rather than replacing Starmer.
However, Burnham said he was prepared to “fight to the highest level” if he succeeds in winning the upcoming Makerfield by-election, which could pave the way for a return to Westminster and potentially position him for a future leadership bid.
He also said Labour needed a “big moment of change” following difficult election results across England, Scotland and Wales.
Burnham’s potential return to Parliament is expected to face a significant challenge, with Reform UK reportedly preparing to devote major resources to the Makerfield campaign after Labour MP Josh Simons stepped aside.
Asked by Channel 4 News whether he had deliberately chosen a constituency vulnerable to Reform UK in order to prove he could defeat Nigel Farage’s party, Burnham said both he and Simons shared “the same diagnosis”.
Former deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner has also suggested she could play a role in any future leadership race, saying she would “play her part” if a contest took place. Her comments come amid speculation about a possible understanding between herself and Burnham.
Rayner’s remarks followed confirmation that HMRC had cleared her over her tax affairs.
This remains a developing story.