Britain's health secretary's resignation increases  pressure on Starmer

British Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned from Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government on Thursday, calling for a debate within the Labour Party on a new leadership, in a move that has increased pressure on Starmer after the party's heavy losses in the recent local elections.

In his resignation letter, Streeting said Starmer "will not lead the Labour Party in the next general election", adding that the next phase should see a "battle of ideas" rather than a conflict between figures or factions within the party.

The outgoing minister criticised Starmer's leadership in sharp terms: "When we need a vision, we find nothing but a vacuum. When we need a compass, we find ourselves in the midst of a state of confusion."

"Leaders have a responsibility," he said, but said it often meant "others are paying the price for them."

A source close to Straighting said he had the majority needed to face a formal confrontation with Starmer but chose not to launch it immediately, preferring a structured path to determine the future of leadership within the party.

The Economist: Starmer has become a burden on Britain

Pressure within British political circles mounted on Prime Minister Keir Starmer after a series of political and economic setbacks weakened his position and sparked a rebellion within the Labour Party.

The Economist magazine said in its latest editorial that Starmer's departure may be better for Britain than his stay, noting that his failure to manage the crises and the decline in his party's popularity made his stay in power a greater danger than his exit.

 Starmer, who came to power less than two years ago, has failed to deliver on his promises to protect the country from the rise of populism, and recent electoral defeats have triggered an internal crisis in the ruling party. The British economy is suffering from stagnant wages and weak productivity, as well as the fallout from Brexit and rising energy prices, which have exacerbated the crisis.

Labour's large parliamentary majority has become a factor of turmoil, with MPs increasingly rebelling for fear of losing their seats, she said, stressing that Starmer lacks a clear political vision and the ability to forge a cohesive future for the country.

Britain needs a new leadership capable of addressing economic and political challenges, the magazine concluded, warning that Starmer's continued position could open the door to further division and the rise of populist currents.

Scenarios for Starmer's removal

Under Labour rules, Starmer could be removed through a no-confidence vote, which would require the signatures of 20% of the party's MPs (81 out of 403) to rally around a single alternative candidate and trigger a leadership election.

Or he could be removed through a mass resignation of senior ministers, which is the most dangerous scenario, according to those involved in British affairs, as it could make Starmer's political position unsustainable and push him to resign under the pressure of the collapse of the government.

Causes of the crisis

The crisis erupted following Labour's crushing defeat in the local council elections, losing more than 1,400 seats and losing its historic control of the Welsh Parliament, in light of the remarkable rise of the right-wing Reform Party and the Greens, as these results were seen as a political earthquake that toppled the party's image as a dominant electoral force.

Starmer is facing a sharp decline in his popularity due to austerity decisions that have angered pensioners, most notably a cut in winter fuel allowances amid the cost-of-living crisis, and pressure on him has increased after the controversy over his appointment of his close friend Peter Mandelson as Britain's ambassador to Washington, despite the latter's name being linked to the case of convicted billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.