UK ex-health minister says will run to replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Pressure mounts on Starmer’s government, as Labour rivals including recently resigned Wes Streeting circle.Wes Streeting, the former British health secretary who resigned from the government this week, says he will run to replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer when the contest is triggered.Starmer’s government has been on the edge, with the United Kingdom leader facing calls for resignation since his ruling Labour party suffered disastrous local elections.Though Starmer has brushed aside growing criticism, a Labour contest to replace him looks all but inevitable in London.While still not announcing he has kickstarted the formal leadership challenge process, Streeting confirmed on Saturday that he will vie to replace Starmer and become the centre-left Labour’s new leader.Whoever leads the governing party, which has a big majority in the UK’s parliament, will by default become prime minister.“We need a proper contest with the best candidates on the field, and I’ll be standing,” Streeting told a think tank event in London on Saturday. The former health secretary has urged Starmer to set a timetable for his departure.In his address to the Labour supporters at a Progress group gathering, Streeting took a dig at the prime minister, saying Labour “arrived in government underprepared in too many areas and lacking clarity of vision and direction”, reported the UK’s Guardian newspaper.No ‘confidence’ in StarmerOn Thursday, Streeting resigned from the Labour government, saying he no longer had “confidence” in Starmer’s leadership. A day later, Streeting threw his weight behind Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who is seen as a top contender to replace Starmer as the Labour leader to lead the country.