Who Could Challenge Keir Starmer?

The stability of the Prime Minister’s tenure is currently under threat following the resignation of Health Secretary Wes Streeting from the government. While Streeting has not formally initiated a leadership contest, his associates previously indicated to the BBC that he intends to challenge Sir Keir Starmer as early as Thursday. This move follows pressure from nearly 90 MPs and several ministers urging the Prime Minister to step down, either immediately or in the near future. Despite this unrest, Labour MPs remain divided on who should succeed Sir Keir as both party leader and head of government. Downing Street has firmly stated that Starmer intends to defend his position against any internal 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’s victory in 2024, having held the shadow portfolio for three years prior. 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, describing a childhood shaped by his grandfather’s imprisonment for bank robbery and his identity as a gay Christian.

Recognized as the cabinet’s most effective communicator, Streeting highlights the reduction in NHS waiting lists as a key achievement. He has been transparent about his leadership goals and enjoys considerable backing from Labour MPs, particularly those positioned in the centre and on the right of the party. His cabinet allies include Science Secretary Liz Kendall and Business Secretary Peter Kyle. However, his positioning as a "right-wing" candidate might face resistance from party members, who generally lean more to the left than the parliamentary party.

Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham commands strong support among Labour MPs and polls indicate he is the most popular Labour figure among the general public. He boasts an extensive governance record, having served as Greater Manchester mayor for nearly ten years, a role that earned him the moniker "the King of the North." Burnham has openly expressed his desire for the premiership.

Currently, the primary barrier to his ascent is that he is not a Member of Parliament. However, Labour MP Josh Simons has resigned from his Makersfield constituency, located near Manchester. Burnham must now be selected as the Labour candidate by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC). If chosen, he can contest the Makersfield by-election; winning this seat would allow him to enter the leadership race, provided he secures the backing of 81 MPs. Earlier this year, the NEC blocked Burnham from becoming Labour’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

If he returns to Parliament, it will be his second term at Westminster. He previously served as MP for Leigh between 2001 and 2017, during which time he held senior positions in the health and culture departments. At 56, Burnham has twice previously sought the leadership, finishing second to Jeremy Corbyn in 2015 and losing to Ed Miliband in 2010. His parliamentary support base is largely drawn from the left of the party and MPs from the North West. Potential allies include Deputy Labour Leader Lucy Powell and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who would likely back his bid if he were eligible to run.

Angela Rayner

Until last year, Angela Rayner served as Deputy Prime Minister, making her the most powerful woman in British politics. Her rise to prominence is particularly notable given that she grew up in poverty, left school at 16 with no qualifications, and initially worked as a care worker. Her involvement with the trade union Unison served as the catalyst for her political career.

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

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