UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has resigned from the ruling Labour government, deepening the crisis threatening to topple Prime Minister Keir Starmer less than two years into office.
Mr Starmer is under mounting pressure to step down after disastrous local election results last week.
In a statement posted on X on May 8, Mr Streeting said he no longer had 'confidence' in Mr Starmer's leadership, adding that 'there is no doubt' the party's unpopularity was 'a major and common factor' in their defeats across England, Scotland and Wales.
Mr Streeting stated: 'It is now clear that he will not lead Labour into the next general election, and Labour MPs and Labour unions want the debate about what comes next to be a battle of ideas, not of personality or petty factionalism. It needs to be broad, and it needs to have the best possible candidates. I support that approach and hope he will facilitate this.'
Mr Streeting's statement did not trigger a formal leadership challenge against Mr Starmer, but it increases pressure on the British leader, who has so far weathered simmering calls to resign.
