British government in crisis: Health Minister resigns

The post of party leader also includes the office of Prime Minister, which Starmer would have to relinquish if he lost the leadership election.

Streeting announced his resignation in a written statement on the X platform. It says he has lost confidence in Starmer’s leadership. It would be “dishonorable and unprincipled” to remain in office.

It is also clear that Starmer will not lead the Labor Party into the next general election. Labor MPs and unions wanted “the debate about the future to be a battle of ideas, not of personalities or petty factional battles”. The next election is not scheduled for until 2029.

Election debacle triggered current crisis

British media had been speculating for days about Streeting’s imminent resignation after Labor suffered massive losses in local and regional parliamentary elections last week. The right-wing populists from Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party were particularly able to benefit. As a result, Starmer was asked to resign by a number of MPs – but the Prime Minister stuck to his office.

It was initially unclear whether other ministers would join Streeting to further increase the pressure on Starmer. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Energy Minister Ed Miliband are considered Starmer’s critics, who, according to media reports, are said to have spoken out in favor of the Prime Minister’s early departure.

Nomination triggers ballot

To challenge Starmer, Streeting needs the support of 81 of the more than 400 Labor MPs (20 percent) who must nominate him. This would trigger a ballot among Labor members and other eligible voters, in which other candidates could also apply, each with 81 supporters from the group.

Starmer would automatically be elected as acting party leader. The party’s executive committee decides on the timing. Starmer last won a party leadership election in April 2020 after his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn announced his resignation.