Wes Streeting's Bold Move and Its Political Implications
Wes Streeting, the former Health Secretary, has taken a significant step in the ongoing Labour leadership contest by explicitly calling for Britain to rejoin the European Union. This move has created a challenging situation for Andy Burnham, the Manchester mayor, who is currently campaigning in Makerfield, a key battleground where 65% of voters supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum.
Burnham faces a tough challenge against Nigel Farage's Reform UK in the upcoming election on June 18. The local electorate, which includes a narrow majority of just 5,300 votes, is sensitive to political shifts. With outgoing Labour MP Josh Simons having secured a slim victory, Burnham's anti-Brexit stance could be a liability if it draws unwanted attention during the campaign.
Streeting’s strategy seems focused on appealing to southern, Remain-supporting voters who are increasingly turning to the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats. He views pro-Brexit Red Wall seats in the North and Midlands as a lost cause, but Burnham cannot afford such a perspective if he wants to win Makerfield and return to the Commons.
Government sources, not aligned with any leadership camp, have expressed frustration over Streeting’s intervention. One source criticized him, saying, "Wes claims to be a unifying force, but he has done this for his pure, selfish ambition." This sentiment reflects the growing concern that Streeting’s focus on rejoining the EU may be more about personal ambition than national unity.
Streeting has confirmed his intention to stand in the leadership contest to replace Sir Keir Starmer. In a recent statement, he said, "Leaving the European Union was a catastrophic mistake. The biggest economic opportunity we have is on our doorstep. We need a new special relationship with the EU, because Britain's future lies with Europe – and one day, one day back in the European Union."
Following Streeting’s announcement, Nigel Farage responded by stating, "The North will be lost to Labour for ever." This reaction highlights the deep divisions within British politics and the potential impact of Streeting’s rhetoric on regional dynamics.
A Whitehall source commented, "In the local election, voters sent a clear message: they are frustrated with a political system they no longer feel serves them. Wes's response? To attempt to reopen the most divisive debate in modern British politics and say that he would turn the next general election into a de facto second referendum. That is not leadership, and it isn't uniting our country. It is desperate self-interest – and a total betrayal of Labour values."
Another source added, "This is the one policy that uniquely serves to divide Britain and Wes has reached for it straight away. It looks like he seeks to impose five years of misery on the country. He claims to be a uniting leader but his first impactful thing has been to choose something to divide the country."
The source continued, "This is a desperate attempt to shore up support based on identity politics and a culture war which frankly most people gave up on many years ago. Student politics."
At a fringe Labour event, Streeting addressed supporters, emphasizing the need for a public mandate before any move towards rejoining the EU. He stated, "We do have to respect the fact that we left the European Union through a democratic choice, so we will need to, in future manifestos, seek a new mandate."
He also mentioned that he would be "proud to campaign for Andy Burnham" in the by-election, saying, "We've got to make sure we deliver the change people wanted to see, that we go into the next election with an equally bold and ambitious plan."
Streeting attempted to frame his campaign as a contest of ideas rather than personalities, stating, "We need a proper contest where all candidates can put their best foot forward. It's got to be a battle of ideas, so that whoever wins comes out strong before it."
Acknowledging the threat posed by Farage, he said, "For the first time in Labour's history, our biggest opponents aren't the Conservatives, but Nigel Farage and Reform. Scottish and Welsh nationalism represents an existential threat to the future integrity of our entire country, but the English nationalism represented by Farage and Reform is a threat to the values and ideals that have made this country great. Progressives understand this threat, and they want us to confront it, but they are increasingly losing faith the Labour Party is capable of rising to the challenge."
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