Wes Streeting has been branded ‘opportunistic’ by a fellow Labour MP after he suggested Britain should join a customs union with the EU, in an ‘early shot’ at a challenge to Sir Keir Starmer.
The Health Secretary was on Monday accused of rolling the pitch for a leadership challenge after he used an interview to make the case for a ‘closer trading relationship’ with Brussels.
The Prime Minister has twice ruled out rejoining the EU customs union in the past month – a move that would breach Labour’s election manifesto.
Labour MP Graham Stringer said he believed Mr Streeting’s latest intervention – which has infuriated Sir Keir’s allies – was ‘just Wes being opportunistic knowing that, I think, it’s nearly 30 per cent of the Labour Party membership is in London, and most of those people seem to be in favour of rejoining the EU,’ he told Times Radio.
‘So it’s an early shot in what might be a leadership election after the May local elections.’
In an interview with the Observer on Sunday, Mr Streeting described the Prime Minister’s ‘reset’ deal with Brussels, branded a surrender by the Tories and Reform, as a ‘good start’.
But he added that the best way to boost the economy would be a ‘closer trading relationship’ with the EU –indicating his support for rejoining the customs union.
Mr Streeting, who last month was accused by Downing Street insiders of plotting a coup, insisted Sir Keir has his ‘absolute support’, but again refused to deny he wants to run the country as he said he was ‘diplomatically ducking the question’.
Alongside Angela Rayner and Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, Mr Streeting is increasingly said to be on manoeuvres as the PM stares down the barrel of apocalyptic local elections in May.
Meanwhile Downing Street reiterated that Sir Keir is sticking to his ‘red lines’ with the EU.
The PM’s spokesman said: ‘We have been very open about the need to reset our relationship with the EU and strengthen that relationship while sticking to our red lines.’
