Title: Henry Zeffman: Keir Starmer Regroups, For the Moment

“Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough.” This was the challenge issued by Sir Keir Starmer to his cabinet today. Spoken at the outset of what was ostensibly a routine weekly scheduled meeting, the prime minister’s words were addressed to the full assembly of 28 ministers, yet they were clearly aimed at a single individual: Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

Streeting has been transparent with the prime minister for months regarding his readiness to launch a leadership bid if necessary. However, he has simultaneously maintained that he will not be the one to initiate such a contest. As of early this morning, that stance remained unchanged.

Starmer, however, executed a bold maneuver, leveraging Labour Party rules to his advantage. Unlike the Conservative method for removing a leader—which relies on whether MPs retain confidence in their boss—the Labour protocol is distinct. To unseat Sir Keir, 81 MPs must formally back a specific challenger to stand against him. While it is evident that well over 81 Labour MPs desire the prime minister’s departure, Starmer is skillfully exploiting the fractures within that opposition. Some factions prefer a delayed leadership contest, largely due to their support for Andy Burnham, who is not currently a Member of Parliament. Others demand Starmer’s immediate exit, rallying behind Streeting.

So, will Streeting take the bait? He declined to rise to the challenge during the cabinet session. Instead, he participated in the scheduled debate regarding the impact of Middle Eastern conflict on the British economy. Reports suggest that leadership was barely mentioned; after Starmer’s opening statement, the discussion swiftly pivoted to its intended topic. Streeting attempted to speak with Sir Keir afterward to address the leadership issue but was turned away.

Despite the tension, a significant contingent of ministers quickly emerged to voice their support for the PM. Notably, this group included Business Secretary Peter Kyle and Science Secretary Liz Kendall, both of whom are viewed as ideologically and personally aligned with Streeting.

However, the prime minister’s defiant strategy faced immediate pressure following the resignation of high-profile minister Jess Phillips, soon followed by her colleague Alex Davies-Jones. Sources indicate to the BBC that further resignations are expected later this afternoon. This wave of departures presents an awkward situation for Starmer, demonstrating that his morning gambit has not subdued frustration within parts of his government. The scenario echoes the ousting of Boris Johnson, which was precipitated by a flood of ministerial resignations. Yet, unlike Johnson, who faced a cascade of departures reaching up to the chancellorship, Starmer is dealing with a trickle. He remains far from the untenable position Johnson faced, where forming a government seemed impossible.

What lies ahead? Beyond Streeting’s potential moves, attention turns to the “soft left” of the Labour Party—a broad grouping of the PM’s critics who support Burnham. Allies of Streeting allege that this faction sparked the current leadership crisis by coordinating demands for the prime minister to announce a departure timetable.

Intriguingly, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband remained silent as he exited the cabinet. Miliband is politically close to Miatta Fahnbulleh, who resigned as a government minister early this morning and urged the prime minister to consider his position. Fahnbulleh backs Burnham, raising questions about whether other ministers of similar persuasion will follow her example.

Burnham’s supporters have insisted for days that he has a route back into parliament: an MP willing to vacate their seat, potentially allowing Burnham to contest a by-election. With Burnham spotted in London today, the question remains whether there is an ideal moment for him to fulfill that promise.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-12 13:50:45 UTC