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Reuters

Keir Starmer faced his biggest challenge yet on Wednesday when his health minister was reported to be readying his resignation to try to trigger a contest to replace a British prime minister who had sought some respite to set out his government’s agenda.
As Starmer and his ministers stood in silence to hear King Charles read out their government’s agenda, the ceremony was overshadowed by what could be the most dangerous threat to the prime minister since lawmakers began urging him to resign over one of Labour’s worst defeats ‌in last week’s local elections.
The report in the Times newspaper that Health Minister Wes Streeting was preparing to resign as early as Thursday to mount a formal leadership challenge could mean the Starmer government’s agenda, outlined by Charles amid much pomp and ceremony, might never be implemented.
Streeting’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Starmer’s spokesperson said the prime minister had full confidence in his health minister but declined to comment on an earlier meeting between the two men.
British government bond futures fell sharply on the report, erasing their day’s gains, as did 20- and 30-year government bonds, while the pound weakened against the euro.

Earlier, Streeting had briefly met Starmer at the prime minister’s Downing Street office but the health minister’s team said he would not comment on that meeting to make sure he did not distract from the King’s Speech.
Streeting took to social media to promote his achievements in tackling waiting times for Britain’s state-run health service. “Lots done, lots ⁠to do,” he wrote, failing to address the report.
Starmer has tried to brush off the challenges to his authority and the King’s Speech – written by the government and delivered by the monarch – announced plans to boost economic growth, energy security and defence.
But a direct challenge from Streeting would signal a deeper crisis for Starmer, which could trigger a new leadership contest if the health minister has the support of 81 Labour lawmakers to launch a bid.
That could encourage other rivals to enter the race, although two potential challengers, Greater ‌Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, have to overcome hurdles before they would be able to run.
Burnham does not have the necessary seat in parliament ⁠to mount a challenge and Rayner has yet to ⁠fully resolve the tax issues that prompted her resignation from office last year.
Streeting is viewed as being on the right of the Labour Party, while both Burnham and Rayner hail from its “soft left”. Some investors are nervous over the possible election of a more left-wing, tax-and-spend ‌Labour prime minister.

Labour lawmakers have said Ed Miliband, the minister for energy security and net zero, could stand in the place of Burnham or Rayner in any leadership contest to represent the left of the party.
Starmer had hoped to shore up his ‌waning authority ‌by unveiling his government’s agenda. But it offered little new to the more than 90 Labour lawmakers who have called on him to set a timetable for his departure. They say he would only lead Labour to ‌defeat in the next national election, due by 2029.
In the preface to the King’s Speech, Starmer repeated that the world “today is more volatile and dangerous than at any point in our lifetimes” and that his government had ⁠to break with a tradition of looking to the “status quo” for answers.
“This time must be different,” he wrote in the preface.
“And this King’s Speech shows it will be different with a plan to make the ⁠country stronger and fairer.”
His offer was mostly the formalisation of previously announced policies, including an attempt to spur anaemic economic growth by building closer ties with the European Union.

Arriving at parliament from Buckingham Palace in a grand carriage procession, Charles led a ceremony, with some of its traditions harking back to the 16th century, that delivers the government’s agenda in line with Britain’s constitutional division of ‌powers.
Addressing lawmakers in the House of Lords, the ‌upper house of parliament, the king, wearing the Imperial State Crown and the Robe of State, said: “My ministers will take decisions that protect the energy, defence and economic security of the United Kingdom for the long-term.”
But despite framing the speech as one reflecting a world buffeted by conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, there was little in the more than 35 bills and draft bills to spur the defence industry – something US President Donald Trump has repeatedly asked European countries to move forward on.
And the implementation of those bills remains as uncertain as Starmer’s political future; if he were to be ousted, his successor would not be bound to follow the same plan.


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Britain

UK PM faces biggest challenge yet as resignation threat overshadows King’s speech

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer walks through the Central Lobby of the Houses of Parliament in London to the House of Lords to hear the King’s Speech on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

King Charles and Queen Camilla in the Chamber of the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster in London on Wednesday. Photo: dpa

British Health Secretary Wes Streeting leaves 10 Downing Street in London on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive for the State Opening of Parliament in London on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

UK’s Starmer to ‘get on with governing’, defies calls to quit

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer talks to journalists onboard a plane to Washington DC in 2024. He has promised to press on with a premiership that has been dogged by scandal and policy ​U-turns since he won a large majority at a national election in 2024. Photo: via AP

Britain’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer outside Parliament Buildings in Stormont, Belfast in 2024. Photo: via AP

British Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden speaks with the members of the media on Downing Street after attending a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn (left) with Keir Starmer in Harlow, Essex, Britain in 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE

Britain’s Health Secretary Wes Streeting leaves Number 10 Downing Street on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Ex-minister tells UK cabinet to boot Starmer or she’ll challenge him herself

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer reacts as he prepares to leave the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris in April. Photo: AFP

Labour lawmaker Catherine West, a former minister, is seen in an official portrait. Photo: UK Parliament

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (left) speaks with former prime minister Gordon Brown on the steps of 10 Downing Street on Saturday. Photo: PA Wire via dpa

Who could replace Starmer as UK prime minister?

A betting company’s odds on contenders to be the next leader of Britain’s Labour Party. Photo: AFP

From left: Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner, Andy Burnham, Shabana Mahmood and Ed Miliband. Photo: AP

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Starmer is fighting to stay in power. Here’s what could happen

Larry the cat outside No 10 Downing Street in London. While the 'Chief Mouser' remains a permanent fixture, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s own future is in doubt. Photo: Reuters

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Photo: AP

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According to reports, Health Minister Wes Streeting was preparing to resign as early as Thursday to challenge Starmer


According to reports, Health Minister Wes Streeting was preparing to resign as early as Thursday to challenge Starmer.


UK PM faces biggest challenge yet as resignation threat overshadows King’s speech

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}According to reports, Health Minister Wes Streeting was preparing to resign as early as Thursday to challenge Starmer

According to reports, Health Minister Wes Streeting was preparing to resign as early as Thursday to challenge Starmer