Streeting told Starmer he would challenge him for leadership in 16-minute showdown
Wes Streeting has revealed that he told Sir Keir Starmer he would be launching a leadership challenge during his 16-minute meeting in No 10 last week.
The former health secretary met the prime minister last Wednesday morning before the King’s Speech in Westminster.
When asked if he had told Sir Keir he would challenge him for the leadership, he replied “yes”, and said: “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with ambition.”
He told the BBC: “I was very honest with the Prime Minister privately about where I thought the Government was going wrong”
Holly Evans21 May 2026 07:54
Green Party announces candidate for Makerfield by-election
The Green Party has announced nurse Chris Kennedy as its candidate for the Makerfield by-election.
Mr Kennedy, who is a children’s safeguarding specialist, said he was “proud” to have been elected to stand in the June 18 contest through a ballot of local members after a hustings.
He said: “We want to defend our area against the politics of hate and division and bring people together around a positive vision for the future.
“At the same time, we can’t let this election be dominated by a Westminster psychodrama. It must be about protecting what makes Makerfield special. People here are feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis, and they deserve real support.
“Greens will fight for warmer homes, lower bills, and a fairer economy. And we will always stand up for our NHS, properly funded, publicly owned, and there for everyone when they need it.”
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said the “greatest threat” in the by-election was Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
He said: “It is in hock to corporate interests and seeks to divide our communities rather than uniting them. We have shown we can take votes from Reform in a way Labour just can’t. We know there are many voters fed up with the status quo who will only choose between Reform and Greens.”
He also said his party would use the by-election to “press Andy Burnham on what kind of MP and Prime Minister he would be, given his mixed track record, and interviews this week suggesting he isn’t committed to fair voting, public ownership and a genuinely new economic settlement”.
Holly Evans21 May 2026 07:45
Wes Streeting pledges wealth tax as he prepares for Labour leadership bid
Former health secretary Wes Streeting has set out plans for a wealth tax that would see capital gains tax equalised with income tax.
Mr Streeting, who had made clear he intends to stand in any leadership contest to replace Sir Keir Starmer, said the current system is not fair and penalises work.
The MP’s intervention comes a day after he warned in his resignation speech that Labour must change course or risk handing Reform UK power, and after he quit the Cabinet last week calling on the Prime Minister to go.
Mr Streeting said: “A member of my family is a cleaner in Lancashire. She pays a higher tax rate on her salary than her landlord pays for the growing value of the home she lives in.
Wes Streeting has called for a wealth tax that would see capital gains tax equalised with income tax (James Manning/PA) (PA Wire)
“She slogs her guts out, he puts in far less effort, yet the state rewards him more than her.
“And we wonder why people are angry.
“The system is penalising work. It’s not fair and it’s bad for our economy. We need a wealth tax that works.
“A pound made from simply owning assets should not be taxed less than a pound made from a hard day’s work.”
Higher or additional rate taxpayers pay 24 per cent on gains they make in the current financial year.
Under Mr Streeting’s proposal that would be equalised with the income tax rate of 40 per cent for higher rate taxpayers and 45 per cent for additional rate taxpayers.
Holly Evans21 May 2026 07:38
Inflation expected to soar as conflict in Middle East continues
The latest package comes after the Government announced an extension of the 5p cut in fuel duty until the end of the year, along with a tax break for hauliers and help with red diesel costs for farmers.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation fell to 2.8 per cent in April, down from 3.3 per cent in March – and the lowest level since March 2025.
But this was largely driven by regulator Ofgem lowering the energy price cap from the start of April by 7 per cent, or £10 a month, for the average household using both electricity and gas, which was pushed down by Government measures to reduce bills.
Inflation is expected to surge back up as the conflict in the Middle East has sent fuel prices soaring and the energy price cap is expected to increase significantly from July when it is next updated.
Energy analyst Cornwall Insight’s prediction for Ofgem’s cap from July to September now stands at £1,850 for a typical dual fuel household, an increase of 13 per cent on April’s £1,641 annual cap.
Ministers are wary of a Liz Truss-style universal bailout for all households, warning that unfunded giveaways could trigger an increase in government borrowing costs and inflation, feeding through to higher mortgage rates, which would end up leaving people worse off.
Experts have warned of turbulence ahead as the Iran energy price shock “catches up” with the cost of living (PA)
Holly Evans21 May 2026 07:24
Bus fare scheme will help children travel for free over summer holidays
The free bus travel scheme will allow every child aged five to 15 in England to travel on participating local routes.
The Chancellor is committing more than £100 million to fund the free fares scheme and to support bus services facing increased costs.
Ms Reeves said: “My number one priority is protecting households from rising costs.
“This summer I want every family to be able to enjoy themselves, that’s why we’re launching the Great British Summer Savings Scheme, and why we’re helping kids with free bus travel throughout August.
“As the war in Iran pushes prices up at home, my economic plan is the right one. I will continue to make the right choices, to protect households and businesses, and build a stronger and more secure Britain.”
Holly Evans21 May 2026 07:16
Rachel Reeves to announce cheaper food in cost-of-living package
Shoppers could save on the cost of biscuits and chocolate as part of a package of measures being set out by Rachel Reeves to ease the impact of the Iran war.
The government is cutting import tariffs on more than 100 types of product in a move that is expected to save consumers more than £150 million a year.
The chancellor also set out a “Great British Summer Savings” scheme, including free bus travel for children in England during the school holidays in August.
In the Commons on Thursday, Ms Reeves will give details of policies to tackle the cost-of-living squeeze triggered by Donald Trump’s war in the Middle East but is not expected to announce immediate help with rising energy bills.
The household energy price cap is predicted to rise by £209 a year from July after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz pushed up global oil and gas prices.
Ms Reeves may set out more details of her contingency planning but she is expected to wait until September before finalising any package of targeted support for households over the winter months, when more energy is used.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is to set out a range of measures aimed at easing the impact of the Iran war (Jacob King/PA) (PA)
Holly Evans21 May 2026 07:10
Comment: Starmer had an impossible choice over Russian oil – and got it wrong
Ukraine will pay the price, writes Sean O’Grady:
Jane Dalton21 May 2026 07:00
Ukrainian MP: Lifting sanctions puts ‘question mark’ over UK friendship
Jane Dalton21 May 2026 06:00
UK announces £3.7bn-a-year trade deal with Gulf states
Jane Dalton21 May 2026 05:00
We may have cut interest rates twice this year if not for Iran war – Bank chief
UK interest rates may have been cut twice this year were it not for the Iran war, the Bank of England’s chief has said, as he warned that potential supermarket price controls were “not sustainable” in the long run.
Bank governor Andrew Bailey told MPs on the Treasury Committee that inflation also may have fallen to its 2% target level last month but the energy shock was keeping the cost of living higher.
The conflict has been the “dominating change in the landscape” for the economy, he said.
Mr Bailey added: “It was a reasonable expectation prior to this all happening that we would probably cut once or twice this year, the market was pricing that.
“The market isn’t pricing that now and effectively that was taken off the table.”
Jane Dalton21 May 2026 04:00