In full: Wes Streeting's resignation letter to PM Keir Starmer
Wes Streeting resigned as UK Health Secretary, criticizing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership and citing Labour’s poor performance in recent local elections as an existential threat. In his resignation letter, Streeting praised Labour’s NHS improvements, including reduced waiting times and increased staffing, but warned of a leadership vacuum and drift under Starmer’s guidance.
Wes Streeting has resigned as UK Health Secretary, marking a potential challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership. In a letter addressed to Starmer, Streeting acknowledged Labour’s achievements in reducing NHS waiting times by 110,000 in March—the largest monthly drop since 2008—and improving ambulance response times to their best levels in five years. He also highlighted progress in recruiting 2,000 additional GPs and hitting mental health staffing targets three years early, alongside balancing the NHS budget for the first time in nine years. Streeting expressed pride in Labour’s election victory in 2024 but described Reform UK’s success in last week’s local elections as an 'existential threat' to the UK’s integrity. He warned that the rise of English nationalism, led by Nigel Farage and Reform UK, poses a danger to progressive values and Britain’s future. Despite these concerns, Streeting emphasized Labour’s progress in revitalizing the NHS, crediting ministers Samantha Jones and Sir Jim Mackey for their leadership. The resignation follows a 16-minute meeting between Streeting and Starmer, where the Health Secretary reportedly conveyed his loss of confidence in the Prime Minister’s leadership. Streeting’s letter criticized a perceived lack of vision and direction under Starmer, arguing that Labour must confront far-right threats while offering a clear progressive alternative. Labour’s poor performance in local elections, including the rise of nationalist parties across the UK, has intensified internal tensions. Streeting’s departure could signal broader dissatisfaction within the party, particularly among progressive factions concerned about Starmer’s ability to counter far-right advances. The resignation may also accelerate calls for a leadership challenge within Labour’s ranks. Streeting’s letter concluded by acknowledging the NHS’s role as a symbol of British values but stressed the urgency of addressing political drift. His resignation underscores growing divisions within the party as Labour navigates economic challenges, post-Brexit fallout, and the threat of far-right political gains.
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