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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor

Wes Streeting quits cabinet and calls on Starmer to resign

Wes Streeting walking along Downing Street carrying a red folder on 5 May 2026
Wes Streeting in Downing Street on Tuesday. In his resignation letter, he criticised Keir Starmer’s determination to remain leader. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Wes Streeting has quit as health secretary and called on Keir Starmer to resign as prime minister, saying it would have been “dishonourable” to remain in post and that there should now be a contest for the Labour leadership.

But Streeting, who is on the party’s right, will not immediately launch a challenge and said he wanted to see a leadership contest with a broad range of candidates – a suggestion that the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, could fight in the contest.

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