Monday, May 18Monday, May 18Wes Streeting, a former UK health secretary and current Labour leadership hopeful, has reignited internal party divisions by publicly advocating for the UK to rejoin the EU. Streeting, who resigned from his government post in protest against Keir Starmer’s leadership, has framed Brexit as a "catastrophic mistake" and argued that Britain’s future lies in regaining EU membership . His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from within Labour, with opponents accusing him of "reopening the Brexit war" and destabilizing the party’s unity .
Lisa Nandy, the UK’s culture secretary and a close ally of Starmer, has dismissed Streeting’s call as "odd," further escalating tensions. Nandy’s intervention has prompted Streeting’s supporters to rally in his defense, framing the debate as a generational divide within Labour over Europe . Meanwhile, Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester and another potential leadership contender, has adopted a more cautious stance, avoiding explicit calls for rejoining the EU but signaling openness to closer ties with Brussels .
The dispute has deepened Labour’s internal crisis, with nearly 90 MPs reportedly calling for Starmer’s resignation amid a wave of ministerial resignations. Streeting’s leadership bid, alongside Burnham’s potential candidacy, has turned Brexit into a central fault line in the race to succeed Starmer, with critics warning that revisiting the issue risks alienating voters . The row underscores broader divisions over Labour’s direction, with some factions advocating for a pragmatic approach to EU relations while others push for a full reversal of Brexit.
> Background: **Labour leadership race reignites Brexit divisions as Starmer faces crisis.** — *3 hours ago*
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