UK PM faces biggest challenge yet as resignation threat overshadows King’s speech

According to reports, Health Minister Wes Streeting was preparing to resign as early as Thursday to challenge Starmer

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Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer walks through the Central Lobby of the Houses of Parliament in London to the House of Lords to hear the King’s Speech on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:52pm, 13 May 2026Updated: 11:54pm, 13 May 2026

Keir Starmer faced his biggest challenge yet on Wednesday when his health minister was reported to be readying his resignation to try to trigger a contest to replace a British prime minister who had sought some respite to set out his government’s agenda.

As Starmer and his ministers stood in silence to hear King Charles read out their government’s agenda, the ceremony was overshadowed by what could be the most dangerous threat to the prime minister since lawmakers began urging him to resign over one of Labour’s worst defeats ‌in last week’s local elections.

The report in the Times newspaper that Health Minister Wes Streeting was preparing to resign as early as Thursday to mount a formal leadership challenge could mean the Starmer government’s agenda, outlined by Charles amid much pomp and ceremony, might never be implemented.

Streeting’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Starmer’s spokesperson said the prime minister had full confidence in his health minister but declined to comment on an earlier meeting between the two men.

British government bond futures fell sharply on the report, erasing their day’s gains, as did 20- and 30-year government bonds, while the pound weakened against the euro.

King Charles and Queen Camilla in the Chamber of the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster in London on Wednesday. Photo: dpa

Earlier, Streeting had briefly met Starmer at the prime minister’s Downing Street office but the health minister’s team said he would not comment on that meeting to make sure he did not distract from the King’s Speech.

UK PM faces biggest challenge yet as resignation threat overshadows King’s speech

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}According to reports, Health Minister Wes Streeting was preparing to resign as early as Thursday to challenge Starmer

According to reports, Health Minister Wes Streeting was preparing to resign as early as Thursday to challenge Starmer