Particle Data Platform
The News Agents

Wes Streeting resigns: Is the challenge over - or just beginning?

5/14/202632 min

Wes Streeting cited the unprecedented local election results and the unpopularity of the government as his reason for resigning as health secretary this lunch time. What he did NOT say was that he was directly running for the leadership - and now allies of the PM are saying he has bottled it because he doesn't have the support. Has today strengthened Keir’s hand? Or just drawn out a slow death?

Later - Nigel Farage managed to buy a £1.4m house in cash just weeks after receiving a £5m donation from a crypto billionaire. He told us last week it was for his personal security. Today he described it as a reward for delivering Brexit. Which was it?

The News Agents is a Global production.

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Speaker 00:00

    [digital native jingle] This is a Global Player original podcast.

  2. Emily Maitlis· Host0:05

    He has seen others parachute out the plane ahead of him.

  3. Jon Sopel· Host0:08

    It adds to this sense of just mess about the last four days.

  4. Lewis Goodall· Host0:13

    If he had gone back with a tail tucked between the legs and actually said, "You know what? I'm gonna stay in the cabinet," that frankly his political reputation would have been irreparable.

  5. Emily Maitlis· Host0:21

    Shocked. Absolutely. Wes' people were calling up people and saying, "Would you like to come on board?"

  6. Lewis Goodall· Host0:27

    He has royally, royally fucked it.

  7. Speaker 4· Soundbite0:29

    With breaking news. Uh, the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has handed in his letter of resignation to the Prime Minister. That letter coming into us here at Sky N- That is what we call a Wesignation letter.

  8. Emily Maitlis· Host0:43

    [chuckles] Wes Streeting has stepped back, stepped down from being the Health Secretary. What he hasn't done, so far, is launch his counter-bid at becoming leader and Prime Minister.

  9. Jon Sopel· Host0:56

    So Wes Streeting is now was Streeting. But what are the cues that people are going to pick up from this? Are other cabinet ministers going to resign? Is Andy Burnham coming back? Or does this mess just go on and on with Starmer's authority shrinking by the day? Welcome to the News Agents.

  10. Speaker 01:19

    [upbeat music] The News Agents.

  11. Jon Sopel· Host1:25

    It's John.

  12. Emily Maitlis· Host1:27

    It's Maitlis.

  13. Lewis Goodall· Host1:28

    It's Lewis, and

We value your privacy

We use cookies to understand how you use our platform and to improve your experience. Click "Accept All" to consent, or "Decline non-essential" to opt out of non-essential cookies. Read our Privacy Policy.