Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleLabour leadership contests explained after Streeting quits to pile pressure on StarmerCopy linkWes Streeting has resigned as Health Secretary, stating his belief that Sir Keir Starmer will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election. His resignation letter explicitly calls for a leadership contest, advocating for a 'battle of ideas' and a broad field of candidates. This move follows days of speculation about Sir Keir Starmer's future after Labour's poor performance in recent local elections. A Labour leadership challenge requires the support of 81 MPs, representing 20 per cent of the party in the Commons, to trigger a contest. Potential candidates for a leadership role include Angela Rayner, Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband, with Sir Keir Starmer automatically on the ballot if a challenge is successful.In fullHow would a Streeting-Starmer leadership contest work?More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in