Starmer has 'full confidence' in Wes Streeting, even as he looks set to resign

13 May 2026, 10:54 by Jane Moore, https://www.thejournal.ie/author/jane-moore/ · TheJournal.ie

UK PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer has “full confidence” in Wes Streeting as health secretary, even as he looks set to resign in a bid to launch a leadership challenge.

Streeting confronted his boss over the crisis engulfing Labour as the pair met for crunch talks – which lasted less than 20 minutes – in Downing Street ahead of the King’s Speech today.

The Cabinet minister is believed to have told allies he is preparing to quit government on Thursday and run for the top job.

Reports of Streeting’s plan emerged shortly before the King’s Speech, threatening to overshadow the government’s efforts to carry on as usual by setting out its legislative agenda for the coming parliamentary session.

Asked whether the prime minister still has confidence in the health secretary, his spokesman told reporters: “Yes,” confirming he was still in post.

The official declined to “get into the content of internal meetings” when asked for details of what was discussed, adding: “But the Prime Minister has full confidence in the Health Secretary.”

The spokesman evaded a question on whether Streeting would remain Health Secretary for the rest of the week, reiterating instead that Sir Keir has “full confidence” in him.

Starmer has so far managed to see off an immediate threat to his leadership, despite ministerial resignations and at least 80 MPs calling for him to quit.

Today’s State Opening of Parliament has put somewhat of a pause on talk of Starmer’s position, with further resignations unlikely so as not to overshadow King Charles’s speech.

However, The Times and the Daily Telegraph are reporting that Streeting is preparing to resign and will trigger a leadership contest, which could begin on Thursday.

Labour’s affiliated unions have called for a plan to be put in place for the election of a new leader of the party.

A statement from the TULO group, which represents 11 unions, said Labour “cannot continue on its current path”.

The unions, including Unite, Unison and the GMB, said: “It’s clear that the Prime Minister will not lead Labour into the next election, and at some stage a plan will have to be put in place for the election of a new Leader.”

Meanwhile, the SNP has said it will seek to force a vote on Starmer’s future in an amendment to the King’s Speech.

New SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan said: “If the Labour Cabinet ministers don’t have the decency to do the right thing – then Parliament must.

“Unless they put an end to this chaos now, the SNP will table a motion of no confidence in Keir Starmer to draw things to a close.”

The Labour leader’s camp has suggested there is no consensus in the party about having a leadership contest.

Cabinet office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told broadcasters the week so far had been “turbulent” for the prime minister, but that MPs had not united behind a candidate to trigger a contest, adding “we are moving on”.

He insisted the two were “having a coffee” and dismissed that it was a showdown over Starmer’s leadership.

“Anyone would think we were talking about the final scene at a Casino Royale or something, looking at some of the coverage that we’ve had,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.