LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer finds himself in political turmoil as his Labour Party faces mounting pressure following devastating losses in recent local elections.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting stepped down from his Cabinet position on Thursday, marking the first senior government official to resign, though he has not yet formally announced his anticipated campaign to challenge Starmer’s leadership.
The electoral losses appear to be the breaking point for a leader already facing criticism over his choice to name Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington, given the seasoned politician’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
Over 90 Labour members of parliament are demanding Starmer resign to allow for a leadership competition to select a new leader who would assume the role of prime minister, with several junior government officials also stepping down.
Despite the pressure, Starmer maintains he will remain in position, and no official leadership challenge has been initiated.
Though no clear favorite has emerged to succeed Starmer, several prominent figures are being considered for the leadership role:
At 43, Wes Streeting is viewed as among the government’s most effective speakers and has spearheaded efforts to reform the struggling National Health Service.
His commitment to healthcare reform stems from personal experience, as the NHS treated him for kidney cancer, leading Streeting to pledge he would help save the health service in return.
First elected to parliament in 2015, Streeting has long been thought to harbor ambitions for the top position, though he previously denied any plans to challenge Starmer.
He documented his journey from London’s working-class East End, where he was raised in public housing, in his book “One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up: A Memoir of Growing Up and Getting On.” The title references his two grandfathers named Bill: his mother’s father had criminal associations and was imprisoned for armed robbery, while he credits his father’s father with guiding him toward Cambridge University.
Streeting entered politics early, heading the Cambridge student union and serving as president of the National Union of Students.
He subsequently worked for Stonewall, the LGBT organization, and has discussed his challenges with coming out as gay while maintaining his Anglican faith.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has distinguished herself as an unconventional politician with a remarkable background story. Raised in social housing, she left school at 16 after becoming a teenage mother.
The 46-year-old Rayner was involved in trade unions before winning election to parliament in 2015 and represents the party’s left wing. She quickly advanced through Labour’s leadership ranks during their opposition years and won election as deputy leader in 2020.
While Rayner commands substantial party support, she was compelled to leave government last year after acknowledging she underpaid taxes on a property transaction. On Thursday, she announced she had resolved the matter with tax officials in what seems to signal preparation for a potential leadership bid.
Following controversy over the Epstein document revelations regarding Mandelson, Rayner spearheaded a parliamentary rebellion that forced the government to transfer authority to Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee for determining which documents should be made public.
Former Cabinet official Andy Burnham, the well-regarded, center-left Greater Manchester mayor, has long been viewed as a possible challenger to Starmer. However, his leadership chances suffered when Labour prevented him from running as the party’s parliamentary candidate in a special February election.
According to established tradition, the prime minister must hold a parliamentary seat. Burnham’s allies prefer postponing any leadership contest to allow him time to return to the House of Commons through a special election.
The 56-year-old Burnham held senior positions in previous Labour administrations, including culture secretary and health secretary.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband previously led the Labour Party, but his five-year tenure as opposition leader concluded with the party’s 2015 electoral defeat. The 56-year-old Miliband has publicly downplayed interest in returning to the leadership role, though he ranks among the Cabinet’s most seasoned members.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, 45, handles one of government’s most challenging portfolios, managing immigration and law enforcement. She has gained favor among Labour’s right wing through her efforts to strengthen border security and combat illegal immigration.
The former Royal Marine who served honorably in Afghanistan currently serves as armed forces minister in Starmer’s Labour administration and has gained prominence within the party since his initial election to Parliament during Labour’s 2024 electoral triumph.
At 46, Carns possesses a compelling personal narrative that might appeal to various Labour factions. Beyond his distinguished Afghan service, which earned him the Military Cross in 2011, Carns was born to a single mother in a working-class family in the Scottish oil community of Aberdeen.
“We do not need more slogans, strategies, press releases or commissions,” Carns wrote in a Thursday article for The New Statesman magazine, “We need action.”
His limited experience could prove problematic. Replacing a leader criticized for poor political judgment with a political newcomer, despite their compelling background, might pose risks.
