Streeting says he would join leadership race as Burnham vows to 'save' Labour

"“We need a proper contest with the best candidates on the field, and I will be standing.”"

"Burnham - who is widely expected to try to replace Sir Keir Starmer as leader should he be selected as the party's candidate in the by-election and win - said the vote must be a moment to “reclaim the Labour party, to save it from where it's been”."

"Asked on Saturday whether he had the backing of the 81 Labour MPs needed to trigger such a contest, Streeting said: “I do have support in the parliamentary party, but this week I also had a choice.” Speaking to reporters at a conference hosted by Labour-aligned political organisation Progress, he said the party could have “rushed” into a contest. But doing so without giving Burnham the chance to stand would mean a new leader would lack “legitimacy”, he said - which would end up “extending the instability and uncertainty” in the party."

"He said he would not speculate on Sir Keir's future, and that despite any “disagreements” between them the prime minister had “many remarkable qualities” and was “someone of enormous decency”."

Wes Streeting confirmed he would stand in any potential Labour leadership contest after resigning as health secretary and telling the prime minister he had lost confidence. He said a proper contest should include the best candidates and that he would be standing. Andy Burnham said he was seeking to stand in the Makerfield by-election to save the Labour Party and reclaim it from where it had been. The prime minister is resisting calls to stand down and set a timetable, and is expected to fight challenges from likely contenders. Streeting said he had support in the parliamentary party but also had a choice, and argued that rushing a contest without allowing Burnham to stand would leave a new leader without legitimacy and extend instability and uncertainty.

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