Wes Streeting resigns from Starmer's cabinet amid potential leadership challenge: 'It's clear you won't lead Labour into next general election'

"“The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered. The country expects us to get on with governing. That is what I am doing and what we must do as a cabinet.” That is the message delivered to the cabinet in response to a growing rebellion against leadership, including from senior ministers."

"“None of that mattered, said Corbyn. His mandate to lead the party came from ordinary members, not MPs. He was duly re-elected by those members in the face of a challenge by a rival MP.” The claim is that internal party re-election can override the parliamentary consequences of losing support among MPs."

"“In a parliamentary system, the authority of a party leader or prime minister comes from parliament itself. A prime minister is appointed if he or she enjoys the confidence of a majority of the House of Commons. Therefore, when a prime minister ceases to enjoy that majority, he cannot continue as prime minister.” The rule is presented as essential and decisive, tied to confidence in the House of Commons."

"“The constitution does not care about internal party machinations or democracy; it cares only whether an MP can justifiably claim to have the confidence of the house. No party leader who has lost the confidence of his MPs can continue in the job: this is an essential, irrefutable rule.” The emphasis is on parliamentary confidence as the only relevant criterion for continued office."

A growing rebellion against leadership has led to a firm message to the cabinet that governing must continue because the Labour Party’s internal process for challenging a leader has not been triggered. The situation is compared to a prior Labour leadership crisis involving resignations, a no-confidence vote, and a claim that the leader’s mandate came from ordinary members rather than MPs. The constitutional principle emphasized is that authority in a parliamentary system derives from parliament, not internal party democracy. A prime minister can remain only while enjoying the confidence of a majority of the House of Commons. Losing that confidence means the prime minister cannot continue, regardless of party machinations.

Read at Irish Independent