Much ado about nothing: British Health Secretary resigns but Starmer continues in Downing Street... for now

LondonThe civil war that was brewing in the British Labour Party since last week's electoral collapse finally broke out this Thursday. Wes Streeting, until now Health Secretary and considered the party's right-wing candidate to replace the increasingly unpopular Prime Minister, has resigned.

In a very harsh letter, Streeting tells Keir Starmer that he has "lost confidence" in him, and that it would be "dishonourable" to continue serving in his cabinet. For the moment, however, the resigned minister has not confirmed whether or not he will present his candidacy to lead Labour, nor, crucially, whether he has the necessary support (81 MPs) to trigger the process.

Much ado about nothing? Nevertheless, there is still much uncertainty. What is certain is that the swords have been drawn and that the different factions of the party are preparing for the fight. But if Starmer does not resign, or sets a timetable for resignation, and no candidate has the aforementioned 81 MPs, there will be no leadership race. At least for now.

In the two pages of the resignation letter, Wes Streeting assures that "it is clear that you will not lead Labour in the next general election". So far, and since last weekend, almost a hundred MPs in the Commons have asked the premier to step aside and set a timetable for an orderly departure from power.

The former Health Secretary assures, however, that "there is no doubt that the unpopularity of this government was an important and common factor in our defeats in England, Scotland and Wales". Perhaps Streeting's most hurtful criticism is that Starmer "has left the country [and the party] without knowing who we are or what we really stand for". He adds: "Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift. This became clear – or rather, was underscored – with your speech on Monday. Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant that other people have had to sacrifice for you. You must also listen to your colleagues, including non-government MPs, and your authoritarian way of treating dissenting voices is weakening our policies." These reproaches have also been made in recent days by the four junior ministers who resigned on Tuesday.

The most popular candidate

A particularly significant fragment from Wes Streeting's resignation letter could alter the development of the leadership crisis in Downing Street and the country. The now former Health Secretary calls for a broad "debate" within the Labour Party and a "clash of ideas," a formula which, in political terms, is interpreted as an indirect reference to an open contest. But he also adds that this process should include the "best possible range of candidates," an expression that has been read as a signal to open the door to Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Manchester, considered the candidate of the party's moderate left.

Burnham is not currently an MP and therefore cannot put forward his candidacy. But his allies are pressing for any eventual internal election to be postponed until he can stand in a by-election and win the seat. All polls place him as the best-rated candidate among the membership. In the north of England, he is a tremendously well-known and popular politician, also because every Thursday he hosts a radio show open to questions from citizens. This Thursday, however, he has cancelled it.

In this regard, a poll released this morning by Labour List, a digital outlet within the Labour orbit, but not organically part of the party, and which has become a regular barometer of the membership's mood, leaves no doubt about Burnham's popularity. The poll indicates that Keir Starmer faces a notable level of internal vulnerability and that in a hypothetical head-to-head, the still-Mayor of Manchester would clearly overtake him (61% to 28%), while figures like Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband would also surpass him but with narrower margins. In contrast, Starmer gains an advantage against less consolidated profiles within the party, such as the resigning Streeting (53% to 23%).

Little more than an hour before Streeting made the announcement of his resignation public, the prime minister's spokesperson had assured at the usual daily press conference that Starmer maintained confidence in his Health Secretary. At the same time, and in the same appearance, it was also assured that the

premier will fight against any attempt to force him out of power. Officially, however, for the moment, the entire party is waiting for candidates to step forward. Nevertheless, it is not ruled out that throughout the afternoon, as some British media are already reporting, a group of Starmer's ministers will make him see that the situation is unsustainable and that the best thing, for the party and the country, is to set a date for his departure. This would repeat what happened in 2007, when the handover between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown dragged on for nine months.