Streeting, a former minister, says he will run in any election to replace Starmer in the UK

Wes Streeting, who used to be the health minister, said on Saturday that he would run against British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in any leadership election. This came just days after he resigned and urged Starmer to set a date for his exit.

“We need a real election with the best candidates,” Streeting told a meeting of the Progress group of Labour followers, who see themselves as the party’s modernizing wing. “I will be running,” he said.

Streeting told the group that Britain’s choice to leave the European Union in 2016 was “a catastrophic mistake” that had made the country weaker than it had been before the Industrial Revolution. Because Britain’s future lies with Europe, he said, the UK should try to join again. “We need a new special relationship with the EU,” he said. “And one day – one day – back in the European Union.”

Starmer wanted Britain to stay in the EU, but as prime minister, he has refused to try to join again or make big changes to things like immigration that the EU sees as necessary for stronger economic ties.

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, announced late Thursday that he would be running for a newly open place in parliament to get back into parliament. This is a requirement for him to be able to run against Starmer for prime minister.

After his party lost badly in last week’s local elections, there were calls for Starmer to step down. He refused to do so.

Labour party rules say that anyone who wants to be leader must get backing from at least 20% of the party’s MPs before they can call for an election.