Wes Streeting resigns as Health Secretary

"Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift."

"It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election and that Labour MPs and Labour Unions want the debate about what comes next to be a battle of ideas, not of personalities or petty factionalism. "It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates. "I support that approach and I hope that you will facilitate this."

"Serving as your Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has been the greatest joy of my life and, regardless of our differences this week, I remain truly grateful to you for the opportunity to serve and I am deeply saddened to be leaving government in this way."

Wes Streeting resigned as Health Secretary by letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and indicated he may challenge for Labour leadership. The resignation followed Labour’s sharp decline in local elections on 7 May and growing calls for Starmer to step down, though he has not done so. In the letter, Streeting praised improvements in the NHS before criticizing Starmer’s leadership of Labour, saying there was a vacuum where vision was needed and drift where direction was needed. He told Starmer that Labour MPs and Labour unions want a debate focused on ideas rather than personalities or factionalism, and urged a broad field of candidates. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and said he was saddened to leave government.

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