LONDON (AP) — Efforts to unseatBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmerbroke out into open rebellion Thursday, with one potential rival resigning from the Cabinet and another clearing the way for her to enter any future leadership contest.
Health SecretaryWes Streetingbecame the first senior minister to quitStarmer’s Cabinet on Thursday in what is expected to be a precursor to challenging his leadership.
Starmer is facing growing pressure to step down after his Labour Party’s disastrous results last week in local and regional elections.
“You have shown courage and statesmanship on the world stage — not least in keeping Britain out of the war in Iran,” Streeting wrote in a letter. “But where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift.”
“It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election,” he added.
Streeting, whose political ambitions have long been known, is considered one of a handful of people who could try to unseat Starmer.
Another likely challenger, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, said Thursday that she had reached an agreement with tax authorities to clear up questions about her taxes that forced her to leave the Cabinet last September. Rayner told the Guardian newspaper that Starmer should “reflect on” his position, adding that she was ready to “play my part” in any leadership election if Streeting were to trigger a contest.
Pressure for Starmer to step aside has intensified since Laboursuffered disastrous lossesin local and regional elections last week, underscoring voterfrustration with a governmentthat has failed to deliver on pledges to boost economic growth and improve living standards for working people.
A stagnant economy and stubbornly high consumer price inflation have made it difficult for Starmer’s government to deliver on its promises after winning a landslide election victory less than two years ago.
Starmer has vowed to remain in office, warning lawmakersthat any leadership contestwould plunge the government into “chaos” at a time it should be focused onissues like the cost of living crisisand war in the Middle East.
Source: Drudge Report
