Aubrey Allegretti

So this is happening... I'm running the 2026 TCS London Marathon and raising money for @theCALMzone. I'm hugely indebted to their services, and lost a friend to suicide this year. Suicide prevention is an incredibly important cause - so I've set an ambitious fundraising target. Do chip in if you've got any spare cash x 2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/aubrey-alle…

Exc: The by-election will indeed take place on Thursday 18th June

One for the diaries: The next Labour NEC meeting is next Tuesday 👀

A Labour source texts: “Cannot wait to be walking round Makerfield telling everyone to vote Labour to stop Starmer.”

Worth bearing in mind this, from our story on Tuesday: Burnham could be thrown another lifeline - even without the support of a majority of NEC officers. Senior Labour sources said the decision about whether he could re-stand could be opened up to the whole NEC. One said: “I suspect next time round, it might not just be officers. I think it’s probably of such importance that it will have to go to the full NEC. “I think people are increasingly open to a full and fair contest. The more open the contest and the more people we can have on the ballot, the better we can reflect members’ wishes.”

BREAKING: Josh Simons resigns - setting up a byelection in Makerfield. Labour's majority in July 2024 was 5,399. Reform came second, Greens in fifth. Simons writes: "I am standing aside so that Andy Burnham can return to his home, fight to re-enter Parliament, and if elected, drive the change our country is crying out for."

That’s not enough emojis under the NEC rules.

12 ❤️ emojis so far on Wes Streeting’s resignation letter, which he posted in the PLP Health and Social Care chat. Beccy Cooper Ben Goldsborough Alan Gemmell Jonathan Brash Joe Morris Chris Curtis Rosie Wrighting Peter Lamb Melanie Onn Gordon McKee Jen Craft Matt Bishop

Streeting follows through: Nerves were rising among some MPs that he would bottle it. The health secretary told colleagues lined up to quit this week: "I wouldn't ask you to do anything I wouldn't be prepared to do myself." One of the big questions is: Will those ministers told to hold off quitting now go over the top too?

A source close to Wes Streeting is burnishing his credentials as a leadership contender: "He won in 2015 when he was 83 on the target list, when Labour made net losses of 23 seats. He won Redbridge when councils fell across England last week. He is a winner but more than that, a winner who has deep Labour values. He now has the platform to show what a real Labour vision looks like. He will lead that debate."

BREAKING: Wes Streeting says he has “lost confidence in your leadership” in letter to Keir Starmer.

A minister says: “The old is dying, the new cannot be born.”

A Labour MP texts: "Frankly his operation is a shambles. And I say that as someone who’s sympathetic to him!" x.com/Steven_Swinfor…

Tomorrow's Times P1

RT @Geri_E_L_Scott: Lots of discussion about which seat Andy Burnham has apparently secured for his route back to Westminster but I'm told…

Have had the same readout on Starmer’s meetings today. Three sources have told me the PM’s message was they couldn’t let Wes Streeting win The readout I got from the MOS meeting was he told them a contest “would destroy our country and our party and we would not be forgiven if we plunged the country into chaos”. The same message was repeated in the PUSS meeting straight after. In that one, three ministers are said to have warned Starmer his agenda was not bold enough. “His message was: No-one comes out well from a contest.” No 10 denies he directly attacked Streeting.

Moderate Labour MPs are urging Wes Streeting not to trigger a contest - warning he will lose to a more left-wing candidate. Luke Akehurst tells me: "Wes is a huge talent and someone I’ve considered a political ally for about two decades. I would urge him not to throw the party into further chaos by resigning. The risk of initiating this process is the outcome isn’t Wes Streeting becoming PM. It’s a candidate from the left of the party and six years of hard work will be destroyed." Phil Brickell also tells me: "Politics is about policy, not personalities. We've just seen the government set out its policy stall for the next 12 months. Each and every one of us should be focusing on delivering that collective mission to the best of our ability. That's why the public wants. It's what they deserve. And it's what putting the country first, party second looks like. Wes can't win with the membership."

NEW: Labour Parliamentary committee tells "those coordinating the statements and resignations to stop" FROM THE PLP BACKBENCH REPRESENTATIVES The local and devolved assembly elections were devastating. Good comrades lost their seats - with this outcome just the latest in a worrying trend of elections results for our party and episodes for our movement. As the backbench representatives of the PLP we are speaking out now to call for everyone in the Labour movement to work in a way that can ensure we will again be on the same team, and on the same page. We are grateful for all the MPs who have spoken to us, in confidence, and told us what they would like to happen next. We will honestly reflect those back to the Prime Minister when we meet him. We respect both those who have set out their objections to the Prime Minister and those who have voiced their support for the Prime Minister. But the scenes of the last 48 hours cannot continue if we are to address the causes of distress for all concerned. We know it is not in anyones interest to see an increasingly divided PLP descend into chaos. We would ask that those coordinating the statements and resignations to stop. We want to convey to all concerned the following which reflects our discussions with colleagues: •⁠ ⁠The rules of the Party are clear regarding challenging the Party leadership. Colleagues either meet those requirements or desist. There will be lasting damage if the current position continues. •⁠ ⁠We will continue in our role to convey the honest and heartfelt views of backbenchers to the Prime Minister. It is more important than ever that our politics is conducted in a way that is respectful and embodies the values we stand for. We will do that and expect the leadership and our colleagues to do the same so that Labour can again be a force for change in this country.

Follow here: thetimes.com/uk/politics/ar…

Exc with @patrickkmaguire: Wes Streeting has told allies that he is preparing to resign and trigger a leadership contest as soon as tomorrow. The health secretary confronted Sir Keir Starmer this morning during a meeting ahead of the King’s Speech that lasted just 16 minutes over the turmoil engulfing the Labour Party. Allies of Streeting who have spoken to him directly said that he has made clear that he is “going to go for it”. They said that he is likely to resign on Thursday and mount a formal challenge for the leadership One Streeting ally who has spoken to him said: “He is going to go for it. He’s going tomorrow.” Discussions have also been held to prepare for MPs to sign Streeting’s nomination papers, according to one of those with knowledge of the plans. Another who has spoken to him said that claims by Starmer’s allies that he has “bottled it” are wide of the mark and that he made clear in private that he will make a bid for the leadership. A third senior source organising for Streeting said: “If they [Starmer’s supporters] think this is over, they’re going to be disappointed. I’m expecting a move before the end of the week.” A spokesman for Streeting said: “Wes is the Health Secretary, he is proud of his record of falling waiting lists and a recovering NHS. He is not planning to say anything following his meeting with the Prime Minister that might distract from the King’s Speech.”