Wes Streeting confirms he will stand if Labour leadership race is triggered Ex-health secretary sets out fledgling policy platform – including call for new special relationship with EU The Guardian - UK · May 16
Wes Streeting confirms he will stand for Labour leadership as he calls for UK to rejoin EU Former Health Secretary has called for a ‘proper contest’ to replace Sir Keir Starmer, including Andy Burnham Evening Standard · May 16
Burnham will ‘fight to highest level’ but says he is not focused on replacing PM The Mayor of Greater Manchester also said he was prepared to ‘fight to the highest level’. The Independent UK · May 16
Minister urges Labour ‘battle of ideas’ amid talk of challenge to PM The call for a debate over the future of Labour’s soul comes as the prospect of a challenge to the Prime Minister’s authority looms closer. Evening Standard · May 16
‘Why are we even doing this?’ The week that left Britain’s PM looking like an interim leader Week of leadership jostling has left Keir Starmer looking vulnerable and short of time – even though no challenger has officially come forward The Guardian - UK · May 16
‘An hour of abuse’: Jeremy Corbyn on Labour coups, and whether he feels sorry for Starmer As Keir Starmer endures a slow ousting, his predecessor recalls the day in 2016 when colleagues tried to force him out – and assesses who might come next The Guardian - UK · May 16
Some see 'King of the North' as UK government's savior. First he needs a seat in Parliament Britain’s government is in turmoil, and some see Andy Burnham as the one to save it The Independent UK · May 16
Pressure on Starmer ramps up as Burnham one step closer to challenge Labour’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee, has granted Mr Burnham permission to stand in the Makerfield by-election selection process. Evening Standard · May 15
Voices: Make-or-break Makerfield will be an uphill struggle for Andy Burnham and Labour THE INDEPENDENT VIEW: Editorial: He’s running – but the Manchester mayor will have to face an electorate sick of exactly this kind of political circus, and a Reform party determined to stop him becoming prime minister The Independent UK · May 15
Pressure mounts on Starmer as Labour clears path for Burnham's Westminster comeback No date has yet been confirmed for the by-election itself, but a likely date for the content is June 18 Evening Standard · May 15
How team Burnham finally cleared the first of many hurdles on route to Westminster At one stage the northern mayor looked to be locked out of parliament, again, but he is still only one step along the road to his No 10 ambitions The Guardian - UK · May 15
Who is James Murray, the new health secretary replacing Wes Streeting? The MP for Ealing North has not run a major department before, but has a reputation as one of the few politicians ‘nobody hates’ The Guardian - UK · May 15
Andy Burnham approved to stand in by-election – opening path to challenge Starmer for leadership Labour’s ruling body had faced intense pressure to allow Burnham to run, following its decision to block him from running in the Gorton and Denton contest earlier this year The Independent UK · May 15
No more chancers or failures – the coming contest must produce a British PM worthy of the name Labour must rise to a historic responsibility by choosing a leader who can win over the nation. The alternative is Farage on the steps of No 10, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland The Guardian - UK · May 15
Evening Standard · May 15 'Death to IDF' chanters face arrest in toughest ever hate speech crackdown at Nakba 78 and Unite the Kingdom marches in London Armoured vehicles and armed police teams will be among 4,000 officers deployed to prevent violence, disorder and hate speech at the rallies taking place on FA Cup Final day
The Independent UK · May 15 Can Andy Burnham actually beat Reform in Makerfield to take on Starmer? Here’s what the data shows The Mayor of Manchester has several obstacles to overcome on the long road to Westminster
The Guardian - UK · May 15 From Team Reeves to Manchesterism: Labour’s four economic camps explained Wes Streeting or Andy Burnham could launch a leadership bid – here are policies from which they could choose
The Times of India · May 15 UK health secretary quits cabinet, says PM Starmer lacks vision and direction TOI correspondent from London: UK health secretary Wes Streeting resigned from the cabinet on Thursday with a scathing letter telling UK PM Keir Starmer he had lost faith in his leadership. "Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift," Streeting said in a…
Evening Standard · May 15 UK borrowing costs hit 28-year-high as City braces for Burnham challenge The pound is also on track for its worst week since 2024 amid growing concern over political instability.
The Conversation · May 15 From landslide to leadership crisis: where did it all go wrong for Keir Starmer? The failure of many of the UK’s recent prime ministers, who have passed through Downing Street in quick succession, seems easy to explain. Theresa May couldn’t do what she promised and didn’t “get Brexit done”. Boris Johnson broke his own rules, and the law. Liz Truss failed through sheer incompetence.
The Guardian - UK · May 15 What could happen next in Labour leadership challenge? How a contest to become PM is triggered, and Andy Burnham’s chances in the Makerfield byelection
The Guardian - UK · May 15 Politics has tossed friendship out of the window – as Keir Starmer is realising Britain’s embattled PM is beset by enemies. One reason is that Westminster has ceased to be a club and turned into a shambles, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins
The Independent UK · May 15 Labour leadership race: Key moments in the challenge to take on Keir Starmer The Labour Party now looks likely to face an intense leadership battle
Evening Standard · May 15 London MPs back Andy Burnham Commons comeback: 'We need our best players on the pitch' Brent East MP Dawn Butler stresses Labour needs its ‘best players on the pitch’
Evening Standard · May 15 Wes Streeting backs Andy Burnham for Makerfield by-election The former health secretary backed Mr Burnham in what he called in a ‘tough’ contest.