Wes Streeting backs Andy Burnham for UK prime minister, drops leadership bid

Wes Streeting in a shocking move has announced an exit from the UK leadership race and backed the most favourite and top contender Andy Burnham for the position of Prime Minister and Labour leader.

Earlier, Wes Streeting considered himself as a potential candidate in the leadership race to succeed Keir Starmer who announced his resignation on Monday.

In May, Streeting resigned from Starmer’s cabinet, calling for the change the country needed to steer out of political and economic turmoil.

The former health secretary stated, “After a devastating set of election results in May, the Makerfield by-election has proven that Labour can still win if we have the courage to change. It was a victory for unity and hope over division and hatred.”

"It was also Andy Burnham’s victory. Andy has shown what Labour can be when we are inclusive, united, and in touch with the lives of the people this Party was founded to represent.”

He also praised Starmer’s leadership for its ability and hindsight to “keep us out of the war in Iran,” adding that he has made the right decision to stand down as the leader of the Labour Party.

Talking about Andy's game-changing idea, Streeting emphasised, “Having spoken at length with Andy in recent days, I'm convinced that there is a place for those ideas under his leadership; that he is committed to building an inclusive party that draws on the best of our political traditions.”

Moreover, he also charted out the plans to change Britain and make it stronger and more wealthy with a “progressive capitalism” and to lead the “world in the fourth industrial revolution and protect people from its risks,” along with building robust ties with democracies around the world and Europe.

“That is the choice that I am making and I hope that everyone else will back Andy, too.”

"We were elected to change our country, to show that politics can be a force for good, and to spread opportunity for everyone. With Andy, we still can,” he added.