Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting also insisted he had the required support from Labour MPs and had ‘every intention’ of standing in any Labour leadership contest14:09, 16 Jun 2026Updated 14:16, 16 Jun 2026Keir Starmer should set out an exit timetable, Wes Streeting says(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Keir Starmer should set out a timetable for standing down as Prime Minister if Andy Burnham wins the critical Makerfield by-election, Wes Streeting has said.The former Health Secretary insisted he had the required support from Labour MPs and had “every intention” of standing in any Labour leadership contest. Speaking to reporters at a press conference, the senior Labour figure said: “I’ve been extremely clear about this. I think there should be a contest. I have every intention of standing in that contest.Mr Streeting, who also used a major speech on Tuesday to set out his economic vision, claimed he had not yet triggered a contest due to the North West by-election taking place.He said: “One of the inevitable [leadership] candidates is on the ballot paper. Had I tried to pull a fast one and get ahead of Andy Burnham before he came back, I think that would have been foul play.“And it doesn’t say much about self confidence does it? If I think I’m the best person to lead this country, if I think I have the right skills, capabilities, and most important the right ideas, then I should embrace that competition and I should be prepared to take on others in that contest.”Ex-Health Secretary Wes Streeting insisted he would stand in any leadership contest during a press conference on Tuesday(Image: Getty Images)The former Cabinet minister added: “I would hope that after Thursday’s by-election, when the results are in, and I very much hope Andy Burnham wins – I was there yesterday campaigning for him again – when the results are in, I hope the Prime Minister will at that stage reflect on his own position and set out a timetable. I think that would be a better way forward for everyone, and would enable that better culture that we aspire to.”His comments come as Downing Street braces for the result of the Makerfield by-election and a challenge from the Greater Manchester Mayor if he emerges victorious at Thursday’s vote. Speaking to reporters at the G7 summit in Evian, France, Mr Starmer repeated his insistence that he would not walk away from the role and would stand in any contest.Pressed on whether he had a plan if Mr Burnham moves against him, the PM said today: “Well, I’m not going to get into hypotheticals but I’ve been very clear throughout this that we won a significant general election result in 2024 with a mandate to bring about change. I’m not going to walk away from that so I will fight if there’s a challenge. I don’t think there should be a challenge.”He also suggested he could defy the odds, pointing to Labour’s success in the 2024 general election. “When we got towards the general election they said it’s not possible for Labour to win a general election,” he told Times Radio.“When we won the general election they said it’s not possible to grow the economy and invest in your public services. Every single time.” He added: “I don’t think there should be a contest. If there is a contest I intend to be in it and to fight it.”Keir Starmer is expected to face a leadership challenge if Andy Burnham wins Thursday’s by-election(Image: AFP via Getty Images)It came as Mr Streeting set out his economic agenda in a major speech in central London and repeated his call for his tax on wealth. But he warned any contest for the leadership must not become a “Dutch auction” of expensive pledges.He said: “Of course when it comes to demands on the government to spend more money there is no shortage of competition. There is a risk that a Labour leadership contest becomes a Dutch auction of the most expensive and popular pledges to appeal to the Party faithful at the expense of the British people.“Not on my watch. We can’t play fast and loose with the public finances or the trust of the people. Not when the risks are so high and faith in politics is so low.He also ruled out calling an early general election if becomes Prime Minister when asked by The Mirror. Mr Streeting said: “Yes. We’ve got a mandate for a five-year Parliament. We were elected on a manifesto, we don’t live in a presidential system, we live in a parliamentary democracy.“I was elected on the manifesto, I will deliver on that manifesto, and I’ll seek to go above and beyond that manifesto to deliver the most amount of change within the three years ahead of us.”
