British Health Secretary Wes Streeting has resigned from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government in a move seen as the first major cabinet departure since political tensions intensified following the Labour Party’s poor performance in recent local and regional elections.

The resignation is expected to fuel an internal leadership contest within the party, amid growing pressure on Starmer to step down.

In his resignation letter, Streeting said the government suffers from a “lack of vision and direction,” adding that Starmer would not lead the party into the next general election.

The development comes as the prime minister faces increasing internal challenges, with several figures emerging as potential successors, most notably Angela Rayner, while Starmer attempts to maintain his political position after significant electoral losses.