Labour members reject Wes Streeting leadership gamble in London poll as Keir Starmer survives internal challenge pressure

Wes Streeting’s hopes of climbing to the top of UK politics took a noticeable hit this week after a new internal poll suggested Labour members are far from convinced he should lead the party.

The survey, conducted among party members, paints a difficult picture for the Health Secretary, with many believing his recent move to position himself as a potential challenger to Sir Keir Starmer was a misstep rather than a bold play for power.

Instead of momentum building behind him, the numbers show resistance — and in some cases, outright rejection of the idea that he should take over leadership of the Labour Party.

Members reject Streeting’s resignation gamble

The controversy began after Wes Streeting reportedly stepped down from his role as Health Secretary in what was seen as a calculated attempt to challenge Sir Keir Starmer’s authority.

But according to polling shared with party insiders, nearly 60% of Labour members believe that decision was wrong.

Many saw it as premature, especially since he did not formally launch a leadership challenge or secure enough backing from MPs to trigger a contest.

Under Labour’s internal rules, a leadership challenge requires support from at least 20% of MPs — a threshold Streeting has not publicly demonstrated he can meet.

Starmer still holds the loyalty of members despite pressure

Even with growing frustration inside the party after disappointing local election results, Sir Keir Starmer still appears to command stronger backing than his would-be challengers.

The poll suggests nearly 70% of members would prefer him to remain leader over Streeting in a direct contest.

That level of support reflects a party that may be unhappy, but not yet ready to abandon its current direction.

While some MPs have openly questioned the leadership after electoral setbacks, grassroots members appear more cautious about triggering a change at the top.

Burnham surges ahead as preferred alternative

If there is one clear winner in the polling, it is Andy Burnham, who emerges as the standout favourite among Labour members.

Almost half of those surveyed named Burnham as their first-choice leader, significantly ahead of Starmer.

In a hypothetical head-to-head contest, nearly 60% said they would back Burnham over the current Prime Minister.

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His appeal appears rooted in his image as a more traditional, regionally grounded Labour figure — one who speaks directly to concerns about inequality, funding distribution, and public services.

A divided Labour Party searching for direction

The wider poll reveals a party still wrestling with its identity.

While Starmer retains approval from around two-thirds of members for his performance as Prime Minister, optimism about winning the next general election under his leadership is weaker.

Only about a quarter believe Labour is strongly positioned to win in 2029 if he remains in charge, a figure that rises sharply when members are asked about Burnham as leader.

Other senior figures such as Angela Rayner, Ed Miliband, and Yvette Cooper also maintain relatively strong favourability ratings, but none match Burnham’s momentum among members.

Burnham’s political balancing act beyond leadership talk

While his popularity grows inside Labour, Burnham has recently found himself navigating political controversy outside leadership speculation.

He has faced scrutiny over previous comments suggesting the UK should reconsider its relationship with the European Union, though he has since clarified that he respects the Brexit referendum result and is not campaigning for re-entry.

At the same time, he continues to position himself as a champion of regional investment, arguing that decades of economic policy have left northern communities underfunded compared to the South.

Impact and Consequences

This poll creates immediate pressure points inside Labour at a sensitive political moment.

For Streeting, the result weakens his standing as a credible leadership contender and raises questions about whether his challenge was premature or poorly timed.

It also risks limiting his influence within the party if colleagues view his move as a failed power play.

For Starmer, the findings are more complicated.

While he still leads in formal terms, the fact that a majority of members would prefer an alternative signals underlying dissatisfaction that could grow if electoral performance does not improve.

For Burnham, the results strengthen his position as the most viable alternative leader in the eyes of the membership — even if his path back into Westminster politics remains uncertain.

What’s next?

The next phase depends heavily on whether Labour MPs decide to test Starmer’s leadership in a formal contest. Without enough parliamentary backing, no challenge can proceed, regardless of membership opinion.

Burnham’s political future is also a major unknown.

If he pursues a parliamentary return through a by-election, it could dramatically reshape the leadership race and accelerate internal party tensions.

For Streeting, the immediate question is whether he can rebuild credibility within the party or whether this episode marks a setback in his long-term leadership ambitions.

Summary

A new Labour members’ poll has dealt a blow to Wes Streeting’s leadership hopes, with most members rejecting his decision to step down as Health Secretary and showing little appetite for him to lead the party.

Meanwhile, Andy Burnham has emerged as the most popular alternative to Keir Starmer, who still retains leadership but faces underlying doubts about Labour’s future electoral chances.

Bulleted Takeaways

• Wes Streeting’s leadership ambitions suffered after a negative Labour members’ poll
• Nearly 60% of members say his resignation as Health Secretary was a mistake
• Around 70% would back Keir Starmer over Streeting in a leadership contest
• Andy Burnham is the most popular leadership choice among Labour members
• Nearly half of members rank Burnham as their first choice for leader
• Burnham would beat Starmer in a direct head-to-head according to polling
• Angela Rayner, Ed Miliband, and Yvette Cooper remain popular but trail Burnham
• Two-thirds of members approve of Starmer’s performance as Prime Minister
• Only about a quarter believe Labour will win the next election under Starmer
• Burnham continues balancing leadership speculation with regional policy messaging