Wes Streeting Confirms He Will Run for Labour Leadership if Contest Is Triggered Wes Streeting, the former health secretary, has announced he will enter a Labour leadership race if one is triggered, emphasizing the need for a “proper contest” to determine the party’s next leader. Speaking at a conference organized by the Progress thinktank, Streeting outlined his vision for the party, including a call for a “new special relationship” with the European Union and a critique of Keir Starmer’s leadership style. His remarks come amid growing tensions within the Labour Party over its direction and strategy. Streeting argued that the UK’s departure from the EU was a “catastrophic mistake” and suggested a closer ties with Europe could help “rebuild our economy and trade” while improving defense against shared threats like Russian aggression and “America First” policies. He also warned against allowing “siren voices” to dominate Labour’s approach to the next general election, urging the party to avoid “out Reform” or “out Green” tactics. Streeting criticized the spread of misinformation online, accusing the country of “handing the pen to tech moguls in Silicon Valley to write our future for us” and calling for a return to democratic control over national direction. The former health secretary also condemned what he described as Starmer’s “heavy-handed” leadership culture, which he claimed stifled creative policy thinking in government. He criticized Labour’s first two years in power, stating the party “arrived in government underprepared in too many areas and lacking clarity of vision and direction.” Streeting highlighted the impact of antisemitism within the party, arguing it left little room for intellectual renewal or policy debate on the centre-left.#keir_starmer #wes_streeting #tommy_robotson #andy_burnham #progress_thinktank
Thousands rally in London for "Unite the Kingdom" march led by far-right figure Tommy Robinson Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in central London on Saturday for a rally organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, with participants framing the event as a protest against what they described as the erosion of British identity. Police estimated the turnout at around 60,000, marking one of the largest right-wing gatherings in Britain in recent years, though smaller than a similar rally led by Robinson in September 2025. The demonstration, titled "Unite the Kingdom," drew participants from across the political and cultural spectrum, with many expressing frustration over perceived government neglect and concerns about the nation’s trajectory. The march saw crowds carrying St. George’s Cross and Union flags, chanting slogans such as “we want Starmer out” and “Christ is King.” Some attendees wore red “Make England Great Again” hats, a nod to President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement. Protesters also displayed Christian imagery, including large wooden crosses, crucifixes, and costumes inspired by the Knights Templar. Chris Wickland, identifying as a priest from the Confessing Anglican Church, told CBS News he was present “to represent Christianity,” warning that “something is disappearing from our culture and from our nation … and that was Christianity.” Another participant, draped in an Israeli flag, claimed he sought to “bring back Judeo-Christian values to this nation,” despite stating he was not Jewish or Israeli but a British Protestant who viewed Israel as an ally to the United Kingdom. The demonstration also included visible support from Iranian opposition groups, with some demonstrators waving pre-revolutionary Iranian flags.#keir_starmer #tommy_robotson #english_defence_league #metropolitan_police #nakba_day
