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LONDON: The UK health minister was on Wednesday forced to repeatedly deny he planned to oust Prime Minister Keir Starmer, hours after sources said the premier would fight off any leadership challenge, despite plummeting poll ratings.
“I’m not going in to demand the prime minister’s resignation,” Wes Streeting told Sky News. “I support the prime minister. I have done since he was elected leader of the Labour Party.”
The 42-year-old has long been seen as a potential replacement for Starmer.
His denial, repeated to other broadcasters, follow anonymous briefings by Starmer allies who on Sunday told journalists he would fight any attempt to replace him.
“Keir knows he is already fighting a leadership contest. When it comes, he won’t resign. He will fight it,” one supporter was quoted as saying by The Times daily.
The government’s poll ratings have nosedived since Starmer won power in July last year.
Despite securing a landslide election victory, his government has struggled on issues such as economic growth and immigration.
Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party has been leading by double-digit margins in many national polls for much of this year.
The next general election is not expected until 2029 but the government faces an important test at local elections in May 2026.
A challenge for the leadership of the Labour Party would require the support of 20 percent of the party’s MPs, which currently means 80 nominations would be needed.