Ex-Health Secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed he will stand in a "proper contest" to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader and Prime Minister.
Mr Streeting, who had been accused of plotting against the Prime Minister for months, set out his stall at a Progress think tank event in London.
The Ilford North MP called for a "proper debate" as part of the process of finding a successor to Sir Keir after warning Labour risks becoming "the handmaidens of Nigel Farage and the breakup of the United Kingdom".
In his first public appearance since resigning as Health Secretary on Thursday, Mr Streeting said: “We need a proper contest with the best candidates on the field and I’ll be standing.”
Mr Streeting, who first hinted at his Labour leadership ambitions in 2018, also revealed why he opted against triggering a contest immediately after his resignation.
There had been speculation that Mr Streeting was struggling to receive the backing of 81 Labour MPs.
However, the Ilford North MP insisted he wanted Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to have the opportunity to return to Westminster following the Makerfield by-election.
He added: "I do have support in the Parliamentary Party but this week I also had a choice.
“We could have rushed straight into a leadership contest, knowing that not all of the candidates would be on the pitch, that Andy Burnham was about to stand in a by-election, and that if we had rushed ahead without giving Andy a chance to stand, the new leader whether it was me or anyone else would lack the legitimacy.
“So we would end up extending instability and uncertainty. That might have been the self-interested thing to do for candidates who are in Parliament presently but it wasn’t in the party’s interest and it wasn’t in the national interest.”
Wes Streeting confirmed his intention to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership
|GB NEWS
Mr Streeting was introduced at the Progress conference by Labour MP Rosie Wrighting.
Ms Wrighting, who resigned as a parliamentary private secretary following Mr Streeting's departure, told attendees: "I believe Wes, more than anyone else, is the person to make me feel hope for our future."
However, Mr Streeting's speech also made clear his commitment to rejoin the European Union.
The Health Secretary, who campaigned for a second Brexit referendum after 2016, advocated for a "new special relationship with the EU".
He added: “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.”
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Wes Streeting and Sir Keir Starmer have become increasingly distant amid the Health Secretary's leadership ambitions | PAMr Streeting suggested he would seek to receive a mandate to forge a new relationship with Europe at a general election, with 52.5 per cent of his own constituents backing Brexit in 2016.
The Ilford North MP's pledge to reverse Brexit also included attacks on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
Reflecting on last week's election results, Mr Streeting said: “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."
However, the Prime Minister also came into the ex-Health Secretary's firing line.
Mr Streeting warned: "If we carry on as we are, if we just say we’re on the right course, we just need to go a bit faster, there is no virtue, no principle in going a bit faster off the same cliff.
Andy Burnham is also looking to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership
| PA"We need to change course, that’s not about which personality do you want, it’s about which platform, which set of ideas, what’s the programme for the country?”
Despite hailing Sir Keir's 2024 General Election triumph, Mr Streeting also appeared to suggest the Prime Minister ran a "dishonest" leadership campaign in 2020 and compared the ex-lawyer to a management consultant.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle was also at the Progress conference to defend Sir Keir's record and position as Prime Minister.
Speaking ahead of his former Cabinet colleague, Mr Kyle took aim at the Prime Minister's leadership rivals.
He told attendees: "There is only one way for success, and that is to root yourself in where voters are. I’m really proud of what we’ve done.
“Voters want ambition, they want boldness, but they want a credible plan for delivering it.”
Wes Streeting resigned from the Cabinet on Thursday
| GETTYMr Burnham's route to challenge Sir Keir is dependent on the upcoming Makerfield by-election on June 18.
The Greater Manchester Mayor, who was blocked by Labour officials from standing in Gorton & Denton in February, was given the all-clear by the National Executive Committee to stand in the seat.
He is expected to face a tough challenge from Reform UK, with Mr Farage vowing to "throw everything at it".
Speaking to Channel 4 today, Mr Burnham appeared to admit he would launch his third bid for the Labour leadership if he wins in Makerfield.
He said: “I’ve taken that fight to another level as mayor, and yes, I will carry on taking that fight to the highest level. And you know, that’s the way I’ve done my politics and done my journey.”
Other potential Labour leadership candidates include ex-Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns.