Streeting Says He Would Trigger Labour Leadership Contest Next Week if Needed

Wes Streeting said he would be prepared to trigger a Labour leadership contest to replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister as early as next week. The former health secretary told BBC Newsnight that uncertainty and paralysis in the Labour leadership would have to be resolved if the party wins Thursday's Makerfield by-election.

and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy

Burnham have said they would stand in any contest to replace the prime minister. Streeting earlier told the BBC he had the backing of the 81 Labour MPs he would need in order to launch a leadership challenge. Speaking to reporters at the G7 summit in France, Sir Keir reiterated his intention not to walk away but to carry on with what he was elected to do.

Burnham is standing to return to Parliament in the upcoming Makerfield by-election. If he wins and becomes an MP, he will be able to initiate or join a leadership race.

Derbyshire if he would trigger a contest if Burnham wins, Streeting said he would prefer the prime minister to take a decision on his own terms. "I would prefer the PM to take a decision on his own terms rather than leave it for me or Andy or anyone else to trigger a contest," Streeting said.

If not, he added, there will need to be a contest and he would be prepared to trigger one. At an event earlier on Tuesday, Streeting said any Labour leadership contest must not become a race of who can offer the most expensive and popular pledges.

Streeting also contested Burnham's argument that the north of England had suffered from 40 years of neoliberalism. He said it is more complicated than that. Streeting suggested Energy Secretary Ed Miliband should approve North Sea oil and gas drilling projects in Rosebank and Jackdaw.