UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting quits embattled Starmer’s Cabinet

Embattled UK PM gets first jolt as Health Secretary Streeting quits

Mohan Sinha
15 May 2026, 10:17 GMT+10

Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Cabinet on May 14, and this could be the first step toward challenging Starmer’s leadership.
While Streeting praised Starmer’s actions on the global stage, including keeping Britain out of the Iran war, he also criticized his political performance.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said Starmer should think carefully about his future and added that she is ready to take part in a leadership contest if one happens.

LONDON, U.K.: Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned from Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Cabinet on May 14, and this could be the first step toward challenging Starmer's leadership.

Starmer's future is now uncertain, as several members of his Labor Party are questioning his leadership, and some lawmakers have called on him to step down. Streeting is the first Cabinet minister to quit after the party's poor performance in recent local and regional elections.

Streeting, who is known to have leadership ambitions, is seen as a possible rival to replace Starmer. He told Starmer that it is clear he will not lead the party into the next general election and asked him to set a timeline for his step-down so others can compete for the leadership.

While Streeting praised Starmer's actions on the global stage, including keeping Britain out of the Iran war, he also criticized his political performance. He said he no longer had confidence in Starmer and felt it would be wrong to stay in his position.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said Starmer should think carefully about his future and added that she is ready to take part in a leadership contest if one happens.

Pressure on Starmer has increased since Labour's heavy election losses, which suggest voters are unhappy with the slow pace of change. However, Starmer has said he will remain leader.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson said she and the Cabinet still fully support Starmer. She called Streeting's resignation a chance for the party to move on from the leadership dispute, though she also said she was sorry to see him leave.

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