British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was fighting for his political survival on Thursday (14 May) after Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned, saying he had “lost confidence” in Starmer’s leadership.
In his resignation letter, Streeting said the U.K. Prime Minister had created a “vacuum” where vision was needed and argued that the unpopularity of Starmer’s government was “a major factor” behind Labour’s heavy losses in elections across England, Wales and Scotland last week.
"It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election and that Labour MPs and Labour Unions want the debate about what comes next to be a battle of ideas, not of personalities or petty factionalism," Streeting said in the letter published on X.
"It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates. I support that approach and I hope that you will facilitate this,” he added.
Streeting is rumoured to be considering a challenge to Starmer for the top job in British politics, and several of his allies have already resigned from the Prime Minister’s government in recent days.
Nearly 100 Labour MPs have called on the Prime Minister to resign following last week’s local elections in England and devolved parliament elections in Wales and Scotland.
Right-wing populists Reform UK and the left-wing Green Party were the major winners in the English local elections.
Under Labour Party rules, a leadership challenger needs the backing of 20% of Labour MPs - currently 81 members as of May 2026 - to trigger an official leadership contest.
On Thursday evening Labour MP Josh Simons said he would resign from his seat in parliament to allow Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham a chance to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer as leader.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is also rumoured to be considering entering a leadership race.
Operations at several energy facilities in Saudi Arabia were suspended on Tuesday after attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi forces injured more than 70 ...
A TV channel was struck during a live broadcast on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at leas...
Twelve countries said on Tuesday they would introduce, support or consider trade restrictions on goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, i...
At least five people were killed and five others injured when an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane overran a runway and crashed while landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday, 6 September, local officials said.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that the United States must recognise that the “rules of the game” in its war against Iran had changed “before it is too late”, a day after Washington struck several Iranian tankers in the Gulf.
U.S. special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Sunday on efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
A TV channel was struck during a live broadcast on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least three people, the city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Meanwhile, drones hit civilian infrastructure in Russia's southwestern Saratov region.
Indonesia has reopened Jakarta's main airport and four others after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau forced widespread flight cancellations, though fresh eruptions have kept authorities on alert.
Twelve countries said on Tuesday they would introduce, support or consider trade restrictions on goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, increasing pressure on Israel over settlement expansion.
France will move to restrict imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, joining 11 other countries backing or considering similar measures, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Tuesday.
A TV channel was struck during a live broadcast on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least three people, the city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Meanwhile, drones hit civilian infrastructure in Russia's southwestern Saratov region.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Monday a €200 million ($232 million) deal with Greenland, called the Global Gateway Partnership Package, aimed at strengthening the EU-Greenland partnership, amid growing U.S. interest in the Arctic island.
Britain is set to ban trade in goods and some services from Israeli settlements in the West Bank as the government steps up efforts to protect the prospects of a two-state solution.
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