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.
Russia and Ukraine are preparing another major prisoner exchange, with officials from both sides working to fin...
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told allied foreign ministers Washington will focus on sanctions and other pressure on Iran “for the time bein...
China's coastal areas and southern regions are preparing for days of intense precipitation, with tens of thous...
Oil prices fell after the U.S. expanded economic sanctions on Iran, as Tehran vowed to retaliate and warned it had tools to respond, raising concerns over potential disruption to regional oil supplies.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv wants peace but will not surrender to Russia, as foreign leaders joined Independence Day events marking 35 years since Ukraine’s independence.
Kyiv has recently received a small number of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors capable of downing Russian ballistic missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. It comes as Britain and France pledged stronger military support for Ukraine.
Only four commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following 13 transits a day earlier, as disruptions continue to restrict traffic through the key energy chokepoint.
Pakistan is stepping up efforts to protect its trade and energy supplies as the Iran war disrupts shipping through the Persian Gulf, driving up freight costs and putting pressure on key export routes.
Russia and Ukraine are preparing another major prisoner exchange, with officials from both sides working to finalise lists of people who could be released, Russia's state news agency TASS said Wednesday.
The Trump administration has temporarily suspended some visa appointment scheduling at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world as part of a new training initiative for consular staff, adding another layer to the administration's broader immigration policy overhaul.
The United States has launched what it describes as its most aggressive sanctions campaign yet against Iran, expanding secondary sanctions and targeting sectors ranging from shipping and aviation to technology and finance.
Kyiv has recently received a small number of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors capable of downing Russian ballistic missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. It comes as Britain and France pledged stronger military support for Ukraine.
Canada has announced nearly $20 billion in retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods and billions in support for workers and businesses, escalating its trade dispute with Washington after President Donald Trump's latest duties took effect.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment