WES Streeting has sensationally quit the Cabinet as he looks set to mount his leadership bid against Sir Keir Starmer.
The departing Health Secretary is poised to make a beeline for the top job – but is he on the left or the right of the Labour Party?
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Wes Streeting looks poised to make a beeline for the top job Credit: Getty
The former Health Secretary is the first to strike against the Prime Minister Credit: Getty
Mr Streeting was named Health Secretary in Keir Starmer’s first Cabinet following Labour’s landslide victory in July 2024.
The former Cabinet Minister has been the MP for Ilford South since 2015 and is a proud patriot who often talks of his love for King and country.
He is the first to strike against the Prime Minister – but he could face rival leadership bids from Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband.
Out of the four frontrunners, Mr Streeting is the furthest to the right of the Labour Party.
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He sits in the party’s Blairite wing – and performs well in front of the media.
His position on his party’s right will prove a problem among Labour’s leftie base.
His upbringing is far from that of a typical politician, having being brought up on a council estate in East London by a single mum.
As a youngster, he would often spend time on the bus home from school reading speeches by Tony Blair.
His first foray into politics came at the University of Cambridge, where he became President of the Student Union.
Mr Streeting then went on to become president of the National Union of Students and served a brief spell as a councillor in Redbridge.
Streeting was a long-time critic of left-leaning former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn Credit: Alamy
Out of the frontrunners, Mr Streeting is the furthest to the right of the Labour Party Credit: PA
Despite Labour and Ed Miliband losing the 2015 general election, Streeting was elected to the marginal seat of Ilford North.
Streeting was a long-time critic of left-leaning former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who he described as “unelectable”.
And it was only when Keir Starmer took over the Labour Party that Streeting’s political career began to flourish.
Appointed Shadow Health Secretary in November 2021, he is a passionate campaigner for structural change within the crumbling health service.
He held on to his seat in the 2024 General Election following a close race with independent candidate Leanne Mohammed.
Streeting later warned the NHS must “reform or die”, setting himself the mammoth task of fixing it.
In May 2024, during an exlusive interview with The Jattvibe, he described himself as an “unashamed champagne socialist”.
He spoke honestly about his major health scare in 2021 when he was diagnosed with kidney cancer.
Streeting talks of the episode – after having a tumour removed – as being an “emotional rollercoaster”.
Allies will point to Streeting always being destined for the top.
His resignation will plunge Sir Keir’s premiership into further chaos as almost 100 MPs have demanded he stand down.
Mr Streeting said it was clear the PM “will not lead the Labour party into the next general election“.
