Wes Streeting looks set to mount a leadership challenge.
Political commentators think Keir’s ‘time is up’ (Image: Getty)
TalkTV descended into a fiery debate over Sir Keir Starmer’s future after political commentator Isabel Oakeshott declared the prime minister’s “time is up”. During a tense discussion with presenter Jeremy Kyle, Oakeshott suggested Health Secretary Wes Streeting could resign within days as pressure mounts on Labour’s leader.
Kyle said: “If he doesn’t resign tomorrow, he will forever be standing accused of, you wanted the trappings of the job, and you didn’t have the belief.” He then asked: “Tomorrow’s dead or never, isn’t it for him?” Oakeshott replied she would be “amazed” if Streeting did not quit “tomorrow, or soon” once the political sensitivities surrounding the King’s Speech had passed.
Wes Streeting is expected to resign soon (Image: Getty)
The political commentator argued history was full of politicians who waited too long to make leadership moves, pointing to failed rebellions during the Gordon Brown years. She said: “History, modern political history is actually littered with people who left it too late.”
The explosive exchange comes amid growing speculation over Labour infighting and rumours of a potential leadership challenge against Starmer.
Kyle also reflected on voter frustration with Westminster drama, saying many members of the public were more concerned about rising taxes, crime and NHS waiting times than internal Labour battles.
He said: “There’s crime on the streets, taxes gone through the roof, and we can’t see a doctor.”
Jeremy and Isabel discussed the ongoing political situation (Image: TalkTV)
However, Oakeshott argued Starmer’s critics did not see the manoeuvring as “games”, insisting they believed they were trying to replace him with someone capable of leading more effectively.
But she ultimately blamed the prime minister himself for prolonging the crisis.
Oakeshott said: “They’re desperately trying to replace the prime minister with someone that they think, almost certainly mistakenly, can do the job better.
“I know it looks like games, but in a sense, we’d be furious with them if they weren’t trying to get rid of him. And it’s him that’s turning this into a ridiculous circus, because he’s refusing to accept that his time is up. He’s the one that is creating this farce, this theatre, and it’s gonna go on, it seems, for at least another 24, 48 hours.”