No 10 meeting

Starmer and Streeting face-off as Labour’s leadership crisis peaks

Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet one of his most prominent leadership rivals, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, in a high-stakes showdown at Downing Street on Wednesday morning. The meeting comes as Labour descends into open division over Starmer’s future, with four ministers resigning on Tuesday and at least 86 MPs demanding his departure—enough to trigger a leadership contest, though not yet behind a single challenger.

The group of 86 MPs submitted a formal dossier to the Parliamentary Labour Party leadership late Tuesday, providing a memorandum that cites “systemic failures in strategic direction” as the basis for their demand. This document, which was circulated to party members via email, serves as the formal mechanism to initiate a review of the leadership, though it notably did not name a specific successor.

The talks are expected to focus on the “turbulence” gripping the party and how to “get us out of this mess,” according to reports. Streeting, widely seen as a leadership hopeful, is under pressure to clarify his stance after a week that saw Labour’s electoral performance spark widespread criticism of Starmer’s leadership. The Prime Minister, meanwhile, has vowed to fight on, telling his Cabinet that the country “expects us to get on with governing.”

A spokesperson for No 10 issued a statement at 10:30 PM on Tuesday, asserting that “the Prime Minister remains fully committed to his mandate and will not be deterred by political maneuvering.” The statement emphasized that the government’s priority remains the delivery of the upcoming legislative agenda.

Starmer’s defiance comes as more than 100 Labour MPs have urged colleagues to come together behind him, arguing that now is not the time for a leadership contest. The statement, not organized by Downing Street, emphasized the need to focus on delivering change following last week’s election results, which dealt a significant blow to Labour’s standing.

Ministerial resignations pile pressure on Starmer

Prominent resignations have intensified the pressure on Starmer. Jess Phillips, a high-profile MP, criticized the Prime Minister’s failure to be “bold,” while health minister Zubir Ahmed quit, citing a “lack of values-driven leadership” and saying the public has “irretrievably lost confidence in you as Prime Minister.” Alex Davies-Jones, believed to be a supporter of Streeting, also resigned, echoing calls for more radical action.

The wave of departures began at approximately 4:00 PM on Tuesday, starting with the resignation of Alex Davies-Jones. This was followed by the resignation of Zubir Ahmed, whose formal letter to the Prime Minister, leaked later that evening, stated that the administration had “diverged from the core principles of the manifesto.”

Miatta Fahnbulleh, the housing minister and an ally of Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, resigned over the scrapping of the winter fuel payment, arguing that the public has lost trust in Starmer’s leadership. The departures have forced the government to appoint four new ministers and three new whips to fill the gaps, including Nesil Caliskan, Natalie Fleet, Catherine Atkinson, Preet Kaur Gill, Gen Kitchen, Deirdre Costigan, and Shaun Davies.

The Cabinet Office confirmed the emergency reshuffle at midnight, announcing that Nesil Caliskan and Natalie Fleet will take on senior roles to stabilize the housing and energy portfolios. The announcement also detailed the movement of Catherine Atkinson, Preet Kaur Gill, Gen Kitchen, Deirdre Costigan, and Shaun Davies into the Whips’ office to manage the increased parliamentary volatility.

Despite the resignations, Starmer has received public backing from his deputy, David Lammy, who urged colleagues to “step back and take a breath.” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who had reportedly privately told Starmer to consider his position, has so far declined to resign, with a spokesman stating she is “cracking on with the job.”

In response to the sudden loss of ministerial support, the Whips’ office has reportedly initiated an emergency briefing schedule for all remaining junior ministers to prevent further defections ahead of the King’s Speech.

King’s Speech looms as Labour’s unity hangs in the balance

The King’s Speech, scheduled for Wednesday, will take place against a backdrop of unprecedented turmoil within Labour. The event, traditionally a moment of pomp and ceremony, is now overshadowed by internal divisions and the fallout from last week’s election results. The speech is expected to outline the government’s agenda for the year ahead, but its reception may be dampened by the ongoing leadership crisis.

The Cabinet Office has reportedly increased security and briefing protocols for the event to manage potential disruptions from within the parliamentary party. This measure follows reports of heated arguments in the corridors of Westminster during Tuesday’s late-night sessions.

Streeting’s meeting with Starmer is seen as a critical moment. While he is expected to discuss the party’s direction, reports suggest he will avoid any public statements that could further distract from the King’s Speech. The Prime Minister’s ability to navigate this crisis will be closely watched, both by his own party and by the electorate, as Labour seeks to regain trust after a challenging week.

As of Wednesday, May 13, 2026, the outcome of the meeting remains uncertain. The coming days will determine whether Labour can unite behind Starmer or if the party is on the brink of a leadership contest that could reshape its future.