Starmer holds brief meeting with Streeting amid leadership crisis

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a brief 16-minute meeting with Health Secretary Wes Streeting at Downing Street on Wednesday, as pressure on his leadership intensified following Labour’s disastrous local election results. The meeting came amid speculation about Streeting’s potential candidacy, though No 10 insiders downplayed any imminent challenge. Streeting’s allies had hoped the meeting would allow him to voice concerns candidly, but Downing Street dismissed claims of a leadership push, with Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds calling it a simple ‘coffee.’ The crisis deepened after Zubir Ahmed, a former junior health minister, resigned and accused Starmer of failing to articulate Labour’s strategy, indirectly aiding the Scottish National Party’s fifth term in Scotland. Ahmed told BBC Radio 4 that Starmer’s lack of direction had left Labour unable to challenge the SNP effectively, describing the prime minister as an ‘inadvertent midwife’ of the SNP’s victory. He warned that Labour MPs now widely view Starmer’s leadership as ‘unsustainable.’ Despite the backlash, Starmer’s allies insisted no viable leadership challenge exists, citing the need for 81 MP backers—a threshold no rival candidate has met. Thomas-Symonds mocked media speculation, stating there was ‘no alternative candidate with 81 MPs.’ However, Labour’s instability persisted, with four of Streeting’s allies resigning in recent days to demand Starmer’s departure. The Guardian reported that 11 Labour-affiliated unions privately predict Starmer will not lead the party into the next general election, further undermining his authority. As King Charles III prepared to deliver the King’s Speech in the House of Lords, Downing Street sought to project calm, though internal divisions showed no signs of easing.