Will he stay or will he go – Starmer!
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Clare Byrne Show on Newstalk. With Aviva Insurance.
Allies of Wes Streeting, the British Health Secretary, have said he is preparing to stand down amid deep frustration with the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership and he could mount a formal challenge for the leadership as early as today. For more on this, I'm joined on the line by LBC reporter Henry Riley and in a moment I'll speak to Mick Lynch, trade unionist. But first, Henry, to you first. Little movement this morning, apart from what we hear about Angela Rayner now being cleared by Revenue. So that clears the path for her somewhat, doesn't it?
Yes, exactly. Everything's happening, but nothing's happening.
What is the current situation with Wes Streeting and Keir Starmer?
It's very much a waiting game. It's been quite bizarre, Clare. I mean, in the period of 24 hours, we had a King's speech. We had briefing that the health secretary was about to resign. We had Nigel Farage speaking. investigated by the Standards Commissioner for a £5 million gift that he was given. We have had this morning Angela Rayner cleared by HMRC. I mean, it really is all happening. And yes, I mean, ultimately, we had this briefing yesterday from West Streeting, right at the very moment, by the way, as the King was about to deliver the priorities of the government of which he is a member and a leading member as Health Secretary. So no doubt that's gone badly with Sir Keir Starmer's His spokesperson yesterday quite curiously saying that the Prime Minister still has full confidence in West Streeting.
However, Claire, that is often the kiss of death because Keir Starmer had full confidence in Lord Mandelson, full confidence in Morgan McSweeney, full confidence in the now sacked Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald. And all three of those were sacked within a few weeks of him making those remarks. It really is a waiting game now. People waiting for Wes Treating to formally declare, although interesting, some of his allies on the sort of media rounds this morning now suggesting that that might not necessarily happen because they're worried that he wouldn't have the support and that if there was to be... And the way we talk about this is quite simplistic, isn't it? But if there was to be a sort of candidate on his left, i.e.
Angela Rayner, they would win. And that's the worry among some of his allies.
And she could well be a candidate now, couldn't she?
She could. And I mean, this has been a real albatross around her neck, this HMRC investigation. And despite the fact that going on, I mean, Keir Starmer did say relatively recently, even though she hadn't been cleared at that point, that he wants to see her return to the cabinet table. There's an awful lot of love in the Labour Party for Angela Rayner.
How is Angela Rayner's clearance affecting the leadership race?
The question mark Around some, though, is whether that would translate to the country. And, I mean, ultimately, just to remind your listeners, the sort of bare bones of the story was that she had a £800,000 home in Brighton. She didn't declare it as her second home because she has a complex... uh arrangement because her son has learning difficulties and so it was a it was in a trust and and she didn't quite um know that she had to declare it as her second home because of those complex living arrangements ultimately she took it to a lawyer the lawyer said you actually owe 40 000 pounds worth of council tax which she's now paid but ultimately she's been cleared as well so the path is clear for her
And speaking with The Guardian and ITV today, ruling out any sort of deal with Andy Burnham, which was much spoken about over the last few days.
The smart money was on her supporting Andy Burnham. But if Andy Burnham throws his hat into the race, it slows the whole thing down potentially. And I don't see how he can enter that race if you have people who have seats and who can run. I mean, he's got a long road to go before he can say, yep, I can be leader of this party.
Oh, absolutely. I mean, as you said, he's not even an MP. And the last time he tried to be an MP was in a recent by-election we had in his sort of broad area in Greater Manchester, in Gorton and Denton.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–0:46
2
What is the current situation with Wes Streeting and Keir Starmer?
0:46–2:41
3
How is Angela Rayner's clearance affecting the leadership race?
2:41–9:47
4
What are the implications of Wes Streeting potentially stepping down?
9:47–12:35
5
Who are the potential candidates for the Labour leadership?
12:35–15:48