Who could challenge Keir Starmer as prime minister?

The political future of the prime minister remains uncertain as pressures within his own party mount. More than 80 Members of Parliament, alongside his home secretary and several ministers, have called for his resignation, either immediately or in the near term. Despite this pressure, there is no clear agreement among Labour MPs about who should succeed Sir Keir Starmer as leader of both the Labour Party and the country. On Tuesday, the prime minister reassured the cabinet that he plans to continue governing, insisting that a leadership contest has not yet been triggered.

Among those who might step forward as contenders for Labour leadership, three names prominently stand out. Wes Streeting currently serves as health secretary, a position he has held since Labour formed the government in 2024, having previously been shadow health secretary for three years. First elected to Parliament in 2015, Streeting has a background that includes serving as president of the National Union of Students and as a London councillor. His 2023 memoir reveals personal details such as growing up in a council flat in London’s East End and his experiences as a gay Christian. Known as a strong communicator within the cabinet, he has been credited with reducing NHS waiting lists. Streeting enjoys notable backing from Labour MPs aligned with the party’s centre and right wings, with supporters including Business Secretary Peter Kyle and Science Secretary Liz Kendall. However, his identification with the right wing may not sit well with the broader party membership, which generally leans left.

Another potential candidate is Andy Burnham, who enjoys considerable support among Labour MPs and is regarded as the most popular Labour politician among voters, according to polls. Burnham brings extensive governing experience from nearly a decade as mayor of Greater Manchester, earning him the nickname “the King of the North.” He has openly expressed his ambition to lead the party but currently faces a significant hurdle: he is not an MP. Efforts by his allies aim to resolve this, but Burnham’s attempt to stand as Labour’s candidate in the recent Gorton and Denton by-election was blocked by supporters of Sir Keir Starmer on the party’s ruling committee. Burnham’s past parliamentary career spanned from 2001 to 2017 as MP for Leigh, during which he held senior government roles. At 52, he has sought Labour leadership before, finishing second in both 2010 and 2015. His parliamentary backing largely comes from the party’s left wing and MPs from the North West, with key allies such as Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy expected to support his bid should he re-enter the race.

Angela Rayner, previously the deputy prime minister and considered one of the most influential women in British politics, is another figure often mentioned. Her rise has been remarkable, having come from a difficult background marked by poverty and leaving school at 16 without qualifications. Rayner began her political journey through involvement in the trade union Unison while working as a care worker. Elected in 2015 as MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, she quickly advanced within Westminster, serving in Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet. In government, she has held the role of housing secretary, tasked with increasing housebuilding and reforming renters’ rights. Like Burnham, she draws strong support from Labour MPs on the left and from Greater Manchester. However, her prospects for a leadership campaign could be complicated by an ongoing HM Revenue and Customs investigation related to her home purchase.

While these three are the most prominent names in the conversation, the possibility remains for other candidates to emerge. Some Labour MPs have floated the idea of former leader and current Energy Secretary Ed Miliband making a comeback. Miliband, however, dismissed this notion in November, telling the BBC, “I’ve got the T-shirt – that chapter’s closed.” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has also been mentioned as a prospective candidate, though her immigration policy changes have been controversial within Labour ranks and may hinder her support. According to party rules, Sir Keir Starmer himself could stand in a leadership contest, and he recently stated to journalists that he would do so if such a contest arises

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