Wes Streeting has launched a scathing attack on what he described as Keir Starmer’s “heavy-handed” leadership culture, which he claimed had stifled creative policy thinking in government.
Streeting criticised the effectiveness of Labour’s first two years in power – all of which he has spent in cabinet – saying Labour “arrived in government underprepared in too many areas and lacking clarity of vision and direction”.
The former health secretary, who is expected to launch a leadership challenge in the coming weeks, also described Starmer’s proposed winter fuel cut – one of the most unpopular policies in the government’s term so far – as a “catastrophe”.
In a speech at a leftwing police conference, Streeting said the party had not had a true debate about its directions since the Corbyn era, saying Labour needed a “battle of ideas” in any coming leadership contest.
He said: “The moral emergency of antisemitism in our party left little room for intellectual renewal or policy debate on the centre-left. We then had a dishonest leadership contest, followed by an overcautiousness in opposition.
“Interesting policy ideas couldn’t be floated because we were too afraid of what the Tories might say, so we said nothing. Instead of a willingness to challenge ideas and kick the tyres, debate was viewed as division and shut down.”
He added: “We’ve carried this culture into government, with a heavy-handed approach that has seen backbenchers scolded for interesting private members’ bills, which weren’t the government’s policy – like banning smartphones in schools.
“That’s why we need a proper contest where all candidates can put their best foot forward. It’s got to be a battle of ideas so that whoever wins comes out stronger for it.”
The MP for Ilford North is expected to set out his vision for the country in the coming weeks before the formal launch of a leadership challenge. Sources close to Streeting say he will focus on closer ties with Europe and holding tech companies to greater account for their platforms.
Streeting said Britain should rejoin the European Union, describing Brexit as a “a catastrophic mistake” and suggested that a closer relationship to Europe would help “rebuild our economy and trade, and improve our defence against the shared threats from Russian aggression and America First”.
He also criticised the spread of misinformation online and stated that the country had “chosen to hand the pen to tech moguls in Silicon Valley to write our future for us. It’s time to take the pen back.”
“What we’ve experienced in our country in recent months is a type of racism we haven’t seen on our streets since the 1970s and 80s,” said Streeting. “Our country’s flags flown from lamp-posts and flyovers, not as a symbol of national pride, but as a symbol of division: a message that those flags belongs to people who look like me and not people who look like our mayor of London.”
Streeting’s intervention comes after Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, was cleared by Labour’s national executive committee to stand in the upcoming byelection in Makerfield. It is believed that Streeting will rival Burnham in any challenge to the prime minister.
In an apparent offer to debate with Burnham and others, Streeting said: “Change begins with an argument. You don’t make progress without one. That’s why this week, I called for a battle of ideas, not personalities.”
