A recent YouGov poll of 706 Labour members shows significant pushback against Wes Streeting's decision to resign as Health Secretary. While Streeting sought to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for leadership, the data suggests members overwhelmingly prefer other candidates, most notably Andy Burnham.

The backlash against Wes Streeting's resignation

According to a YouGov poll of 706 Labour members, the decision by Wes Streeting to step down as Health Secretary has been met with widespread disapproval. The report indicates that nearly six in 10 members believe the Ilford North MP made a mistake by resigning in an attempt to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the party leadership.

While Streeting has publicly criticized the Prime Minister for a lack of "vision," his political momentum appears to be stalling. The poll suggests that only 15 percent of members would support him in a leadership contest,leavng his ambitions in a precarious position despite his high-profile exit from the cabinet.

Andy Burnham's 47 percent lead in the leadership race

The data highlights a significant shift in preference toward the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.. As reported by the poll, Burnham is the top choice for nearly half of the members surveyed, securing 47 percent of the vote compared to 31 percent for the incumbent, Sir Keir Starmer.

This preference is not merely about popularity but also about perceived electoral success. While only a quarter of memers believe Labour can win in 2029 under Starmer's leadership, a substantial 74 percent believe the party would be victorious if Burnham were to take the helm. This "King in the North" sentiment places Burnham in a powerful position as a potential successor.

The 60 percent mandate for Sir Keir to step down

Despite Sir Keir Starmer maintaining a two-thirds approval rating for his performance as Prime Minister, his long-term leadership is under scrutiny. The YouGov findings reveal that more than 60 percent of Labour members believe the Prime Minister should resign before the next general election takes place .

This internal pressure comes at a time of political vulnerability for the party. The poll notes that nearly 100 MPs have already called for the Prime Minister's resignation following poor results in local elections, suggesting that the dissatisfaction seen in the membership may be mirrored within the parliamentary party.

The Makerfield by-election and the path to Westminster

Several critical questions remain regarding how this leadership transition might actually occur. most notably, it is unclear if Andy Burnham will successfully return to Westminster through the upcoming Makerfield by-election, a move that would be essential for him to formally contest the leadership.

Furthermore, the poll leaves the status of other potential challengers in limbo. while Angela Rayner,Ed Miliband, and Yvette Cooper all maintain high favorability ratings—at 80, 77,and 73 percent respectively—it remains to be seen if they will join the fray or if the party will coalesce around a single alternative to Starmer.