Wes Streeting has resigned as Health Secretary, but has not immediately challenged Sir Keir Starmer to the leadership. Mr Streeting needs the backing of 81 MPs to launch a formal leadership challenge, but sources claim he lacks enough support.
This is certainly true for at least one MP, who said the former Health Secretary has "screwed himself" with this decision. A backbench Labour MP told GB News that Mr Streeting has "screwed himself good and proper." Regarding his resignation letter, it "reads like he has no numbers" to make a leadership challenge himself.
However, another source told The Telegraph that he is the man to "beat" Nigel Farage and Reform UK. They said: "The question all Labour MPs, members and trade unionists are asking is this: who can beat Farage? There is consensus that Wes has the qualities to take on Farage. He now has the freedom to show that and lead the debate."
Another source added: "Labour needs to have a proper debate, to have the confidence to win the country again. We're sliding into fatalism. Keir killed debate across the intellectual traditions of the Labour Party. Wes is truly of the party and its intellectual traditions and is relishing the chance to set out his stall."
The resignation has sparked a debate about the future direction of the Labour Party. While some MPs believe Streeting has damaged his chances, others see his departure from the cabinet as an opportunity to challenge the party's current leadership and take on populist opponents like Farage.
