Uk, flash meeting between Starmer and Streeting before the King's Speech
The Health Minister (and potential Labour leadership rival) in conversation in Downing Street before Charles III unveils the government's agenda for the coming year at Westiminster
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer - busy stemming an internal upheaval within the Labour party after the 7 May elections - met with his potential rival for the leadership, Wes Streeting, in Downing Street this morning, just hours before the government's programme for the coming year is to be presented in the King's Speech.
A very brief conversation, according to the BBC: it lasted little more than a quarter of an hour.
Streeting, a right-wing Labour exponent who has long been regarded as the most hotly contested contender for the succession, left the prime minister's official residence with a straight face, not answering questions from journalists crowded in front of Number 10 asking him about his possible resignation or his candidacy against Starmer. The PM had already made it clear yesterday that he was ready for it, convinced that he could beat Streeting in a two-way vote in front of the members.
The health minister met with Starmer in the morning, after Labour plunged into a deep rift over the prime minister's future, with four ministers and undersecretaries resigning and at least 80 MPs urging him to leave office (while another 100 defend Downing Street and the party balance against a leadership run.
Streeting made it known that he would not say anything after the meeting that would divert attention from King Charles' King's Speech.
