Wes Streeting, the former health secretary and Labour MP for Ilford North, is expected to present his leadership pitch in the coming weeks following his resignation from the government last Thursday. Allies of Streeting say he plans to articulate a vision for change within the party and set out how Labour should compete against the Reform UK party and the Greens, beginning with a series of speeches that start today.

Streeting’s resignation was part of a broader move to challenge the leadership of Sir Keir Starmer, though he has stopped short of initiating a formal leadership contest. Some party insiders expressed doubts about whether Streeting currently has the backing of the 80 MPs required to trigger a leadership election, suggesting his momentum may have diminished. Nevertheless, supporters emphasized that Streeting’s return to the backbenches frees him from collective responsibility, allowing him to openly outline his stance and strategy for the party’s future.

He is scheduled to address Labour activists at the annual conference of Progress, a centre-left think tank affiliated with the party’s moderate faction. Following this, Streeting is expected to deliver his resignation speech in the House of Commons during day three of the King’s Speech debate, possibly on Monday. Sources close to Streeting indicated the speech would focus on his vision for the country rather than launching a direct attack on Starmer, underscoring that he has already made his concerns clear in his resignation letter.

On the evening of his resignation, Streeting convened with friends, aides, and members of his “shadow team” who have been involved in crafting policy and strategy. He reportedly thanked them for their support while reaffirming his ongoing leadership ambitions. He expressed frustration with Starmer, criticizing the Labour leader for ignoring calls from nearly 100 colleagues publicly urging him to step down, stating that “Keir isn’t putting the interests of the country first.”

Streeting’s decision not to immediately trigger a leadership contest was informed, according to his allies, by a desire to avoid excluding popular figures such as Andy Burnham. They argued that pushing ahead without candidates with broad membership appeal could create difficulties for the eventual winner. Streeting has publicly endorsed Burnham’s candidacy in the upcoming Makerfield by-election, signaling alignment with his fellow leadership hopeful.

As Labour members and MPs assess the party’s direction ahead of future leadership decisions, Streeting appears poised to play a prominent role in shaping the debate from outside the government ranks.