Streeting says he is 'full of rebellious hope' as he delivers resignation speech

Former health secretary Wes Streeting has delivered his resignation speech in the Commons, telling MPs he was "full of rebellious hope".

Streeting resigned from the cabinet last Thursday, saying he had lost confidence in Sir Keir Starmer's leadership.

In a letter to the prime minister, he criticised Sir Keir's leadership as the reason for the party's dire election results a few days earlier, saying Labour needed a vision but instead "we have a vacuum".

The 43-year-old also told MPs about the challenges faced by young people, saying that "the greatest tragedy of Britain today is that the next generation, for the first time in our modern history, face worse prospects than the last."

In his speech, the Ilford North MP listed his achievements as health secretary before summing up his vision using the quote from cancer awareness campaigner Deborah Jones, known as Bowel Babe.

Streeting was surrounded by supporters on the green benches as he gave the 20 minute speech, flanked by Jess Phillips, who quit as safeguarding minister last week, and Rosie Wrighting, who also resigned her role as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) for health.

He told MPs the Labour Party was "in the fight of its life" against Reform UK and against Nigel Farage's aim of "dismantling the NHS", before attacking the "nationalist" parties now in control in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, saying Labour was in a fight "for the soul of the country".

He said that young people stepped up during Covid, praising how "the generation least at risk gave up the most to help the rest of us keep safe".

But Streeting said they had been repaid by the government "shortchanging them on their education, layering on debt, making it harder to get on the housing ladder, failing to protect them from the AI jobs apocalypse".

"Millions of young people who work hard and do the right thing cannot see path to home ownership or security," he said, adding this means many are "postponing adulthood".

Streeting also made the case for a "new special relationship" with Europe, saying: "It's even more clear we would have been better off leading Europe than leaving the EU."

He concluded: "The Labour Party was elected to deliver real change. We still can."

Sir Keir saw a number of ministers stepping down last week, following poor election results for Labour.

That included the resignation of the MP for Makerfield, Josh Simmons, in order to provide a potential path back to parliament for Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who is now contesting the seat in a by-election.

Both Burnham and Streeting have made clear they would stand in a potential Labour leadership contest.

Four junior ministers and six ministerial aides quit on Monday and have since been replaced, as nearly 90 Labour MPs publicly urged Sir Keir to either resign immediately or draw up an exit timetable.

However, more than 150 MPs have come out in support of the PM or said it is not the right time for a leadership contest.

Sir Keir focused on tackling the cost of living at PMQs on Wednesday, part of a slew of announcements Downing Street has been making since his reset speech on Monday last week.

Reacting to Streeting's resignation speech, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told Radio 5 Live she believed Sir Keir should lead the Labour Party into the next election.

"I agree we've got a huge fight on our hands," she said.

"What I think is a shame is that Wes is now on the backbenches making that argument rather than serving in cabinet, because he's really talented and he's got so much to offer."