Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is due to hold talks with Health Secretary Wes Streeting in Downing Street as pressure builds within the Labour Party over the Prime Minister’s leadership and speculation grows about a potential internal challenge.
The meeting comes after several days of political turbulence in which a number of ministers stepped down from government roles, adding to concerns about unity at the top of Labour. Among those who resigned was Jess Phillips, who left her position as safeguarding minister, alongside Zubir Ahmed, whose departure further fuelled discussion about divisions within the party.
The resignations have coincided with increasing pressure from Labour MPs, with more than 80 reportedly urging Sir Keir to step aside following disappointing election results. While dissent has become more visible in recent days, Downing Street allies maintain that the government remains stable and focused on delivering its agenda, insisting that no formal leadership contest is underway.
Labour’s internal rules make clear that a leadership challenge can only begin if the leader resigns or if a challenger secures backing from at least 20 per cent of Labour MPs, equivalent to 81 members. Streeting is widely seen as a possible future contender and is believed to have support among centrist and right-leaning MPs, although it is unclear whether that support would be enough to meet the threshold required to trigger a contest.
According to BBC reporting, allies of the Prime Minister are confident that Streeting would struggle to gather sufficient nominations. Even so, the political atmosphere has become increasingly tense, with MPs across different factions positioning themselves in anticipation of any future leadership move.
The internal unrest comes at a sensitive moment for the government, with the King’s Speech expected to outline more than 35 bills and draft proposals. These measures are expected to cover immigration, policing, NHS reform, and plans connected to British Steel, forming the core of Labour’s legislative programme for the new parliamentary session.
Streeting is expected to meet Sir Keir shortly before the King’s Speech, with indications that he will avoid making public remarks that could overshadow the event. The meeting itself is being closely watched at Westminster, given the heightened speculation surrounding Labour’s leadership dynamics.
Tensions were also highlighted earlier in the week when Sir Keir reportedly declined to engage in discussions about his position during a Cabinet meeting, telling colleagues that such matters should be addressed individually rather than collectively. A government source told the BBC that ministers were later unable to raise the issue further with him.
In her resignation letter, Jess Phillips said meaningful progress in her role “usually came from threats made by me in light of catastrophic mistakes,” while also warning that “the desire not to have an argument means we rarely make an argument, leaving opportunities for progress stalled and delayed.”
Further resignations followed from Miatta Fahnbulleh and Alex Davies-Jones, both of whom called for stronger direction and clearer leadership. Zubir Ahmed was more direct, writing that the public had “irretrievably lost confidence in you as prime minister” and that continued leadership was “wholly untenable.”
Despite the growing pressure, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has defended Sir Keir’s position, urging critics to identify an alternative leader if they believe change is necessary, underscoring the lack of an obvious successor within the party.