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Josh Simons<\/strong>, the former Cabinet Office minister who is MP for Makerfield, has announced that he is resigning to free up a seat for Andy Burnham.<\/p>\n In a post on social media, he says:<\/p>\n double quotation markFor decades, Westminster has overseen the managed decline of towns like mine. We have talked big, then acted small, stuck in a politics of incrementalism that cannot meet the moment. We have lost the trust of those our party was built to serve.<\/p>\n It is my unwavering belief that nothing short of urgent, radical, courageous reform will make a difference. That must start with a change in leadership.<\/p>\n Today, I am putting the people I represent and the country I love first and will be resigning as MP for Makerfield. 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.<\/p>\n This has not been an easy decision. This is my family\u2019s home, where only a few weeks ago, doctors and nurses at Wigan Infirmary saved our newborn son\u2019s life.<\/p>\n But we all must make choices and in recent days I found myself with a difficult one: defend the status quo or step forward and act.<\/p>\n I have made my choice. I am in politics because politics is how you change lives for the better. My party has one last chance to do that: deliver for the people and places I represent, drive economic growth, secure our borders, reform our state and politics, and change a status quo that is not working.<\/p>\n That is the fight. I believe Andy is the one to lead it.<\/p>\n Here is his letter to constituents.<\/p>\n Simons has a majority of 5,339 at the last election.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.23 EDT<\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n <\/span>Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Pat McFadden<\/strong>, the work and pensions secretary, is being interviewed on the PM programme. Asked when a new health secretary would be appointed, he said it would come \u201cpretty soon\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Downing Street has published Keir Starmer<\/strong>\u2019s reply to Wes Streeting\u2019s resignation letter.<\/p>\n Starmer says he is \u201cvery sorry\u201d that Streeting has quit, and he thanks him for his work with the NHS.<\/p>\n On the election results, Starmer says:<\/p>\n double quotation markLast week\u2019s local election results were extremely tough. I know many colleagues saw good friends lose seats. Everyone in our party is acutely aware that our opponents are more dangerous than ever before. They are a real threat to the values we care about, to the communities we represent and to the country we love.<\/p>\n It is incumbent on all of us to rise to what I see as a battle for the soul of our nation. As part of that we must deliver on all ofthe promises we made to the country, including our promise to turn the page on the chaos that was roundly rejected by the British people at the last general election.<\/p>\n I am truly sorry you will no longer be sat at the cabinet table helping to transform our National Health Service. But I have no doubt you will continue to play an important role in our party for many years to come. I hope we can work together to show that Labour in power can address the problems our opponents exploit, can install hope where they want despair, and can bring people together where they want division.<\/p>\n This is more conciliatory than letters of this kind normally are after a hostile resignation.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Sinn F\u00e9in, the SNP and Plaid Cymru have held a meeting at Westminster to discuss what they describe as \u201ca new era of cooperation between Scotland, Wales and the north of Ireland\u201d.<\/p>\n For the first time since devolution, the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all led by nationalist politicians. This has been seen as a step towards making the break-up of the UK more possible \u2013 even though there is no prospect of imminent votes on separation in any of those countries.<\/p>\n In a statement after the meeting, Michelle O\u2019Neill<\/strong>, the first minister in Northern Ireland, said:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe agreed to continue working together in common purpose to deliver for our people and their right to national self-determination.<\/p>\n People are increasingly looking beyond the constraints of Westminster and towards a future where decisions are taken at home.<\/p>\n O\u2019Neill was meeting Dave Doogan<\/strong>, the SNP leader at Westminster, and Liz Saville Roberts, the Plaid Cymru leader at Westminter.<\/p>\n The SNP<\/strong> said \u201ca new era of cooperation between Scotland, Wales and the north of Ireland\u201d was discussed at the meeting. Doogan<\/strong> said:<\/p>\n double quotation markLast week\u2019s elections were truly historic. Scotland, Wales and the north of Ireland are now all led by first ministers who are committed to independence.<\/p>\n For people watching around the world, there is no clearer sign that Westminster\u2019s time is up.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n The Fire Brigades Union<\/strong> has voted down a proposal to disaffiliate from the Labour party, the Press Association reports. PA says:<\/p>\n double quotation markDelegates at the annual conference of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) held a lengthy debate on links with the party in the aftermath of last week\u2019s elections.<\/p>\n FBU general secretary Steve Wrigh<\/strong>t said millions of working-class people had rejected \u201cKeir Starmer\u2019s Labour party\u201d.<\/p>\n He told delegates at the conference at the University of Warwick that the message could not be clearer, adding: \u201cStarmer is not fit to lead the Labour party, and he is not fit to be prime minister. This is Starmer\u2019s fault and Starmer must go.\u201d<\/p>\n Answering calls from some delegates to disaffiliate, he said: \u201cWe can drift away from Labour altogether, cosy up to another party, or we stay and fight. We stay in the room. We stay in the argument.\u201d<\/p>\n Delegates voted to remain affiliated to Labour.<\/p>\n On Monday the Communication Workers Union<\/strong> voted against a proposal to disaffiliate from Labour.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Here is some more reaction from other parties to the resignation of Wes Streeting.<\/p>\n From Ed Davey<\/strong>, the Lib Dem leader<\/p>\n double quotation markPerhaps now we\u2019ll get a health secretary who will take on social care, rather than dodge it because it\u2019s hard. Who will end corridor care, not preside over its worst ever year. Labour needs to get a grip.<\/p>\n From Seamus Logan<\/strong> MP, the SNP\u2019s health spokesperson<\/p>\n double quotation markThis isn\u2019t government, this is chaos. The eventual resignation of Peter Mandelson\u2019s right wing pal Wes Streeting is a sure sign that Keir Starmer\u2019s Labour party is preparing to go from bad to worse.<\/p>\n In the middle of a cost of living emergency, the Labour party are openly telling people that their focus will be on fighting amongst themselves instead of fighting to cut people\u2019s energy and fuel bills. <\/p>\n It is important to be clear what Labour politicians mean when they talk about a long leadership timetable \u2013 it is a timetable for this chaos to go on even longer.<\/p>\n From Liz Saville Roberts<\/strong>, the Plaid Cymru leader at Westminster<\/p>\n double quotation markAfter much speculation and rumour, there goes another one of Starmer\u2019s team. His power and authority as prime minister has been further weakened today, raising a serious question of when rather than if. And so the chaos continues.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n This is from Newsnight\u2019s Nicholas Watt<\/strong> on the anti-Streeting briefing coming out this afternoon from Keir Starmer\u2019s supporters.<\/p>\n double quotation markBreaking: Wes Streeting is unlikely to be on Keir Starmer\u2019s Christmas card list for some time. This is what a Starmer ally has told me:<\/p>\n \u201cWes has failed the most basic rule of politics: he can\u2019t count. He never had the numbers. We counted and counted and counted and recounted. The highest number we got for Wes was 44. We could not see how he could get higher than that.<\/p>\n We knew that, Wes will have known that. So all that stuff from Wes about how he is resigning in the party interest to allow a broad debate is a load of old guff. He never had the numbers.<\/p>\n So what does Wes do when he doesn\u2019t have the number? He seeks to brief his way out of a difficult position.<\/p>\n So his closest ally resigns from the government. Then he briefs that the cabinet are turning on Keir. No they\u2019re not. So the government goes on. We will appoint a new health secretary.<\/p>\n The sad thing is we have a good story to tell today. Good growth. But nobody is talking about that.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Reform UK has lost control of Worcestershire county council, the BBC reports. Reform had been running a minority administration on the council since the elections last year. But the Reform group split as a result of in-fighting, and the council is now run by the Conservatives working with the Greens, the Lib Dems and independents.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Steven Morris<\/span><\/p>\n Steven Morris is a Guardian correspondent covering the west of England.<\/em><\/p>\n There has been an unusual outbreak of harmony in Bristol \u2013 two political parties building bridges.<\/p>\n In what they say is a first for England, Helen Godwin<\/strong>, the Labour mayor of the West of England, unveiled Cllr Tony Dyer,<\/strong> the Green leader of Bristol city council, as deputy mayor.<\/p>\n Godwin\u2019s people say this is the first appointment by a Labour leader of a Green politician as deputy mayor of any combined authority in England.<\/p>\n Godwin said the pair were united over issues such as improving transport, building new homes and creating new jobs.<\/p>\n Dyer said working together across political parties was the way to make sure the west of England fulfilled its potential.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Voters in Ilford North may be disappointed to learn that Wes Streeting has not launched a leadership challenge today. Helena Horton<\/strong> went to the constituency to find out what people have to say about their MP, and she discovered that they are rather fond of him.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n In his statement accompanying the release of NHS England waiting times figures this morning (see 10.42am), Wes Streeting<\/strong> said the NHS had delivered \u201cthe biggest cut in waiting lists in a single month in 17 years\u201d. In his resignation letter, Streeting qualified this, saying today\u2019s figure was \u201cthe biggest monthly drop outside of Covid since 2008\u201d. (See 1.26pm.)<\/p>\n The Press Association has done a fact check on this claim. It says the qualified version is correct. It explains:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe most recent NHS England data show<\/strong> the waiting list stood at 7.11 million treatments in March, a fall of 110,073 treatments from February when it was 7.22 million.<\/p>\n Analysis of historical data shows<\/strong> this was the largest month-on-month decline since April 2020 when the waiting list fell by 335,009 treatments, and is also lower than March 2020 when it fell by 187,378 treatments. Both of these instances were during the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n Outside of the pandemic, March 2026 recorded the largest fall since the waiting list shrunk from 2.63 million in September 2008 to 2.47 million in October 2008, which was a decrease of 158,745 treatments.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Kemi Badenoch<\/strong>, the Conservative leader, has claimed in a social media video that Wes Streeting\u2019s resignation shows that Labour has now \u201cdescended into civil war\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Nigel Farage<\/strong> bought a \u00a31.4m property in cash shortly after receiving a \u00a35m personal gift from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, Ben Quinn <\/strong>and Rowena Mason<\/strong> report.<\/p>\n Farage<\/strong> has also given an interview to the Sun\u2019s Harry Cole. In the past Farage has always defended the \u00a35m donation he received from Harborne on the grounds that it was a personal gift to pay for his security for the rest of his life. Speaking to Cole, Farage gave a slightly different explanation, describing it as a reward for his Brexit campaign.<\/p>\n When it was put to him that getting a \u00a35m gift was unusual, Farage replied:<\/p>\n double quotation markIt\u2019s very unusual for someone to give up 27 years of their life to campaign for something. And this was given to me on an unconditional basis, completely unconditional basis. But frankly, it was given as a reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n The Labour MP Alan Gemmell<\/strong> was also on the World at One. He is a leading Wes Streeting supporter, and he was interviewed on the programme in effect as a quasi spokesperson for the campaign.<\/p>\n He claimed Streeting did have the support of 81 Labour MPs (enough to launch a leadership challenge). He said:<\/p>\n double quotation mark[Streeting] has the support of the right number, of more than 81 MPs in the party.<\/p>\n But he\u2019s taken a principled decision today not to trigger that contest \u2026 It\u2019s clear in conversations with MPs and with the unions that the party wants a discussion, a battle of ideas, an open contest, a broad contest for the direction that we should take and how we fix the problems that we\u2019re in.<\/p>\n On the same programme, Stephen Bush<\/strong>, the FT commentator, said that Streeting does have more than 80 Labour MPs who would like to see him become leader. But he pointed out that some of those are in government, and reluctant to start a process that could lead to them leaving their jobs.<\/p>\n To nominate Streeting in a leadership contest, a minister would have to disclose their name to the party, and would have to resign.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.23 EDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Labour’s Josh Simons to stand down as Makerfield MP to free up seat for Burnham Josh Simons, the former Cabinet Office minister who is MP for Makerfield, has announced that he is resigning to free up a seat for Andy Burnham. In a post on social media, he says: double quotation markFor decades, Westminster has<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":49422,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[2094,3265,270,1973,2652,10804,2326,1121,132,124,3704,791],"class_list":{"0":"post-49421","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-andy","9":"tag-burnham","10":"tag-change","11":"tag-country","12":"tag-crying","13":"tag-drive","14":"tag-josh","15":"tag-labours","16":"tag-live","17":"tag-politics","18":"tag-simons","19":"tag-stand"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49421","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=49421"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49421\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/49422"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=49421"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=49421"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=49421"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Starmer tells Streeting he is ‘truly sorry’ he has quit, but says he will play ‘important role’ in Labour ‘for years to come’<\/h2>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in, SNP and Plaid Cymru meet to discuss ‘new era of cooperation’, with warning ‘Westminster’s time is up’<\/h2>\n
Fire Brigades Union votes against proposal to disaffiliate from Labour<\/h2>\n
Labour’s West of England mayor chooses Green councillor as her deputy<\/h2>\n
Badenoch claims Streeting’s resignation shows Labour has ‘descended into civil war’<\/h2>\n
Nigel Farage bought \u00a31.4m property in cash shortly after receiving \u00a35m gift<\/h2>\n
Streeting does have 80-plus MPs supporters, but took ‘principled decision’ not to trigger contest, key supporter claims<\/h2>\n