Labour must change course in Government or risk losing power to Reform and aiding the break-up of the United Kingdom, ex-minister Wes Streeting said today in a challenge to Sir Keir Starmer.
In his first Commons appearance since quitting the Cabinet Mr Streeting warned of an ‘existential threat to the UK’ as he set out a thinly-veiled pitch to replace Sir Keir.
Mr Streeting, who stepped down as the health and social care secretary last week, praised the improvement of the NHS while he was in charge of it, saying it had been an ’emotional wrench’ to leave.
He also spoke about reclaiming patriotism from the far-right and his own personal journey including a battle with kidney cancer and his upbringing on ‘a council estate in Stepney’.
He was surrounded by a phalanx of supporters, including Jess Phillips, the former safeguarding minister who also quit last week with a barb at the PM.
In his speech, Mr Streeting said: ‘We are in the fight of our lives against nationalism, and it is a fight we are losing.
‘Unless we change course, we risk handing the keys of No 10 to Reform.’
But he made no mention of why he resigned and made only a passing mention to Andy Burnham, the favourite to replace Sir Keir if he wins an upcoming by-election.
Mr Streeting, who stepped down as the health and social care secretary last week, praised the improvement of the NHS while he was in charge of it, saying it had been an ’emotional wrench’ to leave
In his first Commons appearance since quitting the Cabinet Mr Streeting warned of an ‘existential threat to the UK’ as he set out a thinly-veiled pitch to replace Sir Keir
He also hit out at the nationalist threat of the SNP in Scotland and Plaid Cymru, which ended 27 years of Labour rule in Wales in elections earlier this month.
