𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has been tipped to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader and Prime Minister by many in Westminster and beyond. However, Express readers want a different face taking the keys to Number 10: Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

In a shock poll, the Ilford North MP won nearly 20% of the vote, narrowly beating Mr Burnham. That said, 46% of respondents were unsure who they wanted to replace Sir Keir, with many calling for Nigel Farage in the comment section.

Mr Streeting survived Sir Keir’s reshuffle, following Angela Rayner’s departure as Deputy PM, and has been vocal in his belief in reforming the NHS.

But, according to YouGov, several other Labour figures – that could conceivably replace Sir Keir – are more popular with the public at large.

Mr Streeting’s approval rating is 17%, putting him 14th on the pollster’s popularity list. That’s behind wannabe PM Andy Burnham, who sits sixth on 21%.

Curiously, Sir Keir himself has an approval rating higher than both men – 27%. Although the PM’s disapproval rating is 53%, higher than that of Mr Streeting and Mr Burnham combined.

It comes after Mr Burnham claimed Labour MPs have privately told him to challenge Sir Keir Starmer. The former Labour Cabinet member also called for a “wholesale change” to see off an “existential” threat to the party from Reform UK as speculation grows as to whether he could launch a leadership bid.

Mr Burnham criticised the Prime Minister’s approach, saying the “challenge we’ve got in front of us cannot be met by a very factional and quite divisive running of the Labour Party”.

He then set out his vision for a “plan to turn the country around” in an interview for the cover of the New Statesman magazine, three days before the start of Labour’s party conference.

Asked about the Mayor’s comments this morning, Starmer’s Housing Secretary Steve Reed told the BBC: “We need to be focused on the country, not the party. I would urge everyone in the Labour Party to spend conference focusing on how we drive change.”