Former minister Streeting says he will stand in any contest to replace UK's Starmer

Britain’s former Health Secretary Wes Streeting delivers a keynote address at the Progress annual conference 2026, in London, Britain, May 16, 2026. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy

LONDON, ⁠May 16 (Reuters) - Former ⁠health minister Wes ‌Streeting said on Saturday that he would ​challenge Prime Minister ⁠Keir ⁠Starmer in any leadership ⁠contest held, ‌days after ⁠stepping down and urging ​Starmer ‌to set a timetable ⁠for ​his departure.

"We need a proper ⁠contest with the ​best candidates on the field, and ⁠I will be standing," Streeting told a conference ​of the ⁠Progress group of ​Labour supporters.

(Reporting ‌by David ​Milliken, Editing by Louise Heavens)