Who Could Challenge Keir Starmer?

Keir Starmer’s position as Prime Minister is currently precarious following the resignation of Health Secretary Wes Streeting from the government. While a formal leadership contest has not yet been initiated, Streeting’s associates previously indicated to the BBC that they anticipated he would challenge Sir Keir Starmer as early as Thursday. This development follows pressure from nearly 90 MPs and several ministers urging the Prime Minister to step down, either immediately or in the near future.

Despite the growing calls for change, Labour MPs remain divided on who should succeed Sir Keir as both party leader and head of government. Downing Street has firmly stated that Sir Keir intends to defend his leadership against any challenge. Although no other figures have publicly declared their candidacy, several potential contenders have emerged.

Wes Streeting

Streeting has served as Health Secretary since Labour took office in 2024, having previously held the shadow portfolio for three years. First elected to Parliament in 2015, his background includes tenure as a London councillor and president of the National Union of Students. In his 2023 memoir, he detailed his upbringing in a council flat in London’s East End, his experiences as a gay Christian, and visits to his grandfather, a bank robber, while he was incarcerated.

Recognized as the cabinet’s most effective communicator, Streeting highlights the reduction in NHS waiting lists as a key governmental achievement. He has previously voiced his leadership aspirations and enjoys significant backing from Labour MPs, particularly those positioned on the party’s center and right. Key allies in the cabinet include Business Secretary Peter Kyle and Science Secretary Liz Kendall. However, his perceived alignment with the right wing of the party could hinder his appeal among party members, who generally lean further left than the parliamentary party.

Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham commands strong support within Labour MPs and polls indicate he is the most popular Labour figure among the general public. With nearly a decade as Mayor of Greater Manchester, he has earned the moniker "the King of the North" and boasts an extensive record in governance. Burnham has been transparent about his desire for the top job.

His path to Number 10 is currently obstructed by his status as a non-MP. However, Labour MP Josh Simons has resigned from his Makersfield seat, located near Manchester. To contest the resulting by-election, Burnham must be selected as the Labour candidate by the National Executive Committee (NEC). Success in this by-election would allow him to re-enter Parliament and pursue the premiership, provided he can secure the backing of 81 MPs.

Burnham previously attempted to become Labour’s candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election earlier this year but was rejected by the NEC. If he returns to Westminster, it will be his second term; he served as MP for Leigh between 2001 and 2017, holding senior roles in the health and culture departments. At 56, he has twice previously sought the leadership, finishing second to Jeremy Corbyn in 2015 and behind Ed Miliband in 2010. His parliamentary support is largely drawn from the party’s left and MPs from the North West. Potential allies include Deputy Labour Leader Lucy Powell and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, both of whom would likely support him if he were eligible to run.

Angela Rayner

Until last year, Angela Rayner served as Deputy Prime Minister and was regarded as the most powerful woman in British politics. Her rise from poverty to the highest levels of government is notable; she left school at 16 with no qualifications and began her career as a care worker. Her involvement with the trade union Unison served as the catalyst for her political journey.

Elected in 2015 for the Greater Manchester constituency of Ashton-under-Lyne, Rayner quickly ascended in Westminster, joining Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-15 03:34:33 UTC