Wes Streeting has warned Sir Keir Starmer that his government is losing the fight against nationalism, and that it risks “handing the keys of No 10” to Nigel Farage and Reform UK unless it changes course.
In his resignation speech in the Commons, he said he had “no regrets” and “rebellious hope” after quitting the government last week and calling on Sir Keir to stand down.
The now former health secretary confirmed at the weekend that he would stand in any Labour leadership contest that is held to replace Sir Keir.
But the party is now waiting with bated breath to see if another rival for the top job, Andy Burnham, wins next month’s Makerfield by-election.
Some MPs believe that if Mr Burnham returns to parliament by beating Reform and clinching the seat, he will almost certainly become the UK’s next prime minister – despite Sir Keir insisting he will not “walk away” from Downing Street.
In his speech, Mr Streeting said: “I left the government because we are in the fight of our lives against nationalism, and it is a fight that we are currently losing.
“Unless we change course, we risk handing the keys of No 10 to Reform, and I do not want that on our consciences.
“For the first time in our history, nationalists are in power in every corner of the United Kingdom. Scottish and Welsh nationalism represents an existential threat to the future integrity of the United Kingdom. And Reform UK represent a threat to the values and ideals that have made this country great.”
Mr Streeting also told MPs he does not believe Labour has got “time to waste in government treading water” and cited AI, climate change and tech among the challenges the government has to get to grips with.
“Each generation used to provide a better future for the next – we still can,” he said. “The question is not whether young people would fight for their country, but when their country is going to fight for them.”
Mr Streeting concluded his speech by paraphrasing a quote from the late bowel cancer campaigner Deborah James, saying that it was “with no regrets and with rebellious hope that I have left the government”. Mr Streeting has himself suffered from cancer.
“The Labour Party was elected to deliver real change,” he said. “We still can.”
