Politics latest: Streeting launches Labour leadership bid with call to rejoin EU

Wes Streeting has said he will be running for Labour leader after delivering his first speech today since resigning as the country’s health secretary.

Mr Streeting dramatically quit his ministerial role on Thursday, and he used a speech at the Progress conference to lay out his platform, including eventually rejoining the EU

His allies say he will run in any potential Labour leadership contest despite his glowing endorsement that Andy Burnham is Labour’s “best chance of winning” the Makerfield by-election.

Mr Burnham will be allowed to stand in Labour’s candidate selection process for the Makerfield by-election, taking him a step closer to challenging Sir Keir Starmer for the leadership of the party.

The Greater Manchester mayor announced on Thursday he was seeking to return to Westminster, after Labour MP Josh Simons agreed to step down.

Education secretary Bridget Philipson told BBC Radio 4’s The Week in Westminster programme that Mr Burnham would be a “strong candidate” but said Sir Keir had her “full support”.

Wes Streeting said the Makerfield by-election, expected to be a battle against Reform UK, “will be tough” as he touted Mr Burnham as one of Labour’s “best players.”