Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting arrives at Downing Street to attend the weekly cabinet meeting in London, UK, December 9, 2025. Viktor Shimanovich Viktor Shimanovich/Future Publis
Wes Streeting decided to “diplomatically evade” questions about his replacement nomination Keir Starmer in a new interview.
As speculation grows over how long the Prime Minister will remain in No 10 before being ousted after a shocking 18 months in power, many expect The Minister of Health is throwing his hat into the ring.
However, the MP for Ilford North told The Observer: “The more closely I see this job, the pressure on Keir and the demands of this job, the more I wonder why anyone would want to do this.”
Streeting insisted he gave Starmer his full support but refused to completely rule out running for leadership.
He said: “I'm diplomatically dodging the question to avoid any further of the silly soap opera we've had over the last few months.”
Asked if he thought Britons would vote for a gay prime minister, he said: “Yes, but I want to make it clear that this is not a presentation or a job application. The Prime Minister has my absolute support.”
The Health Minister also criticized the reports – which came from Starmer's allies – that he was planning a coup against the prime minister last month.
He told The Observer it was all “water under the bridge” right now, but then made it clear he still had a few problems with the way government works.
He said he had asked his officials to look into research into Australia's ban on social media for children under 16, as part of a new effort to “radicalize” its support for young people.
This is a very different position from Starmer, who opposes such a ban.
Streeting also says he would like the UK to join a customs union with the European Union. the Prime Minister has already rejected this proposal.
“We suffered a huge economic blow by leaving the European Union,” the health minister said. “I'm really not happy with the level of taxation in this country.
“We ask a lot of individual taxpayers, we ask a lot of businesses.
“We have a level of debt that we need to take very seriously.
“The best way to achieve greater growth in our economy is through a deeper trading relationship with the EU.”
