The former Health Secretary is widely expected to stand in if there’s a leadership contest to replace Keir Starmer – but he stopped short of confirming his candidacy for the top job in his first speech since quitting as Health Secretary
Wes Streeting has called for “battle of ideas” in the next Labour leadership contest in his first speech since quitting Keir Starmer’s top team.
The former Health Secretary is widely expected to stand in the race to replace the PM, if there is a formal challenge to his leadership. But he stopped short of confirming his candidacy for the top job in a speech to the Progress group on Saturday.
“Labour has been in existence for 126 years and in power for only 35. Our time in government is precious. We must not waste it. We haven’t had a debate in the Labour Party about who and what we’re for in more than a decade,” he said. “Change begins with an argument. You don’t make progress without one. That’s why this week, I called for a battle of ideas, not personalities.”
Ms Streeting said the leadership contest that led to Mr Starmer succeeding Jeremy Corbyn as leader had been “dishonest.”
“The moral emergency of antisemitism in our party left little room for intellectual renewal or policy debate on the centre left,” he said. “We then had a dishonest leadership contest, followed by an overcautiousness in opposition. Interesting policy ideas couldn’t be floated because we were too afraid of what the Tories might say, so we said nothing. Instead of a willingness to challenge ideas and kick the tyres, debate was viewed as division and shut down.”
He said this approach left them unprepared for government and lacking direction – and blamed this on the “early catastrophe” of the winter fuel allowance cut. He continued: “We’ve carried this culture into government, with a heavy-handed approach that has seen backbenchers scolded for interesting private members bills which weren’t the Government’s policy – like banning smartphones in schools. That’s why we need a proper contest where all candidates can put their best foot forward. It’s got to be a battle of ideas so that whoever wins comes out stronger for it.”