Wes Streeting backs calls for national insurance cut and North Sea drilling

Streeting has openly stated he wishes Keir Starmer to resign, and that he wants to stand in a leadership contest. Photograph: Thomas Krych/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

Wes Streeting has backed calls for national insurance cuts for businesses, and for the government to drill for oil and gas in the North Sea.

The former health secretary and potential Labour leadership candidate told the Sunday Times there should be a “targeted reduction” of employers’ national insurance contribution as a way to “actively incentivise” hiring, particularly of young people.