Wes Streeting 'dirty tricks' row erupts as mystery 'WesForLeader' website appears

A mystery website has stoked the flames of a Wes Streeting leadership charge in a bid to oust Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. On the very same day, Sir Keir has appeared to be on the brink of being pushed out of No.10, a new site with the URL WesForLeader.com has been discovered.

Rather than be the work of the health secretary himself, the page is reportedly an attempt to mock Mr Streeting. Chief political correspondent for The Times, Aubrey Allegretti wrote on X: "Dirty tricks? A “WesForLeader” website has been launched with this holding page. I’m told it’s nothing to do with Streeting - but someone’s trying to embarrass him."

Separately, Times Radio political editor Anna Mikhailova cited two sources claiming Mr Streeting tried to speak privately with Sir Keir after today's cabinet meeting - but the PM refused.

She quoted a Government source as saying: "Keir said in Cabinet that he wouldn't discuss the elections or his leadership, and that he will only speak to cabinet ministers about that individually.

"Then after the meeting he refused to see Cabinet ministers individually."

Mr Streeting has not referred to the escalating leadership crisis on social media, instead posting on X about Green Party leader Zack Polanski's apparent failure to pay council tax for three years.

Sir Keir is trying to shore up support after a turbulent few days in the wake of hefty losses for the Labour Party in local elections last week, which if repeated in a national election would see it overwhelmingly ejected from power.

Three junior ministers resigned from the government on Tuesday and called for a change in leadership, but no candidate has yet come forward to challenge Starmer directly.

Roughly 80 Labour backbenchers have now said Starmer should stand down or at least set out a timetable for his departure, but that’s not enough to trigger a leadership contest.

Under Labour party rules, a fifth of its lawmakers in the House of Commons, or 81 members, must publicly give their backing to a single candidate, something which has not happened yet.

On Tuesday, Miatta Fahnbulleh, minister of housing, communities and local government, became the first member of his government to step down, urging Sir Keir “to do the right thing for the country” and set a timetable for his departure.

She was followed by Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, whose resignation letter called Starmer a “good man fundamentally” but vented about his inability to make bold changes.

Alex Davies-Jones, UK Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, also quit her post on Tuesday afternoon.

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