Wes Streeting is the Labour MP for Ilford North, having first been elected to parliament at the 2015 general election.

In the 2024 general election, Streeting received 15,647 votes, representing 33.4% of the vote share. The independent candidate, Leanne Mohamad, received 15,119 votes (32.2%), while the Conservative candidate, Kaz Rizvi, secured 9,619 votes (20.5%). Streeting was duly re-elected with a narrow majority of 528 votes.

The Ilford North constituency is located in North East London, bordering Essex. It includes areas such as Barkingside, Clayhall, Cranbrook, Fairlop, Fullwell, Hainault and Valentines.  

Historically a Conservative-Labour marginal seat that changed hands multiple times post-war, Streeting gained it for Labour in 2015. Labour held it with increased majorities in 2017 and 2019, but it became highly marginal again in 2024 following a strong challenge from an independent candidate campaigning primarily on the Gaza conflict. The constituency is known for its significant ethnic and religious diversity.

Political Career

Streeting currently serves as secretary of state for defence. He was appointed to this role in July 2026, following the Labour leadership contest and Andy Burnham’s elevation as prime minister.

Streeting served in cabinet as secretary of state for health and social care from July 2024 to May 2026.

Streeting resigned as health secretary on 14 May 2026 and declared he had lost confidence in the prime minister, Keir Starmer. The move followed days of political crisis in the wake of the May 2026 local elections and simultaneous elections to the devolved Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru.

On 13 May, Streeting held talks with Starmer in 10 Downing Street. The health secretary was in the building for just 16 minutes before departing. Reports later indicated that Streeting, in the prime minister’s company, had privately stated his intention to resign and challenge Starmer for the Labour leadership. Streeting, having delayed to avoid interrupting the state opening of parliament, formally submitted his resignation at 1:00 pm on 14 May.

In his letter of resignation, the outgoing health secretary described the 2026 local and devolved parliament elections as “unprecedented”. He said that the rise of nationalism in all corners of Britain represented “an existential threat to the future integrity of the United Kingdom”.

Streeting wrote: “Progressives across our country understand this threat and our responsibility to confront it, but they are increasingly losing faith that the Labour Party is capable of rising to our historic responsibility of defeating racism and offering hope that Britain’s best days lie ahead through social democracy.”

On 16 May, Streeting confirmed he would stand in a future Labour leadership election. The comments came as part of an appearance at the annual Progress/Progressive Britain conference in London. Streeting was also highly critical of his party’s record since at least 2015.

He stated: “We haven’t had a debate in the Labour Party about who and what we’re for in more than a decade. The moral emergency of antisemitism in our party left little room for intellectual renewal or policy debate on the centre left.

“We then had a dishonest leadership contest, followed by an overcautiousness in opposition. Interesting policy ideas couldn’t be floated because we were too afraid of what the Tories might say, so we said nothing. Instead of a willingness to challenge ideas and kick the tyres, debate was viewed as division and shut down.”

Following the sensational June 2026 Makerfield by-election, which returned Andy Burnham to parliament, Streeting endorsed Burnham and abandoned his own leadership bid. The former health secretary said he had spoken to Burnham “at length” in recent days.

In a post to social media, he stated: “We could spend the summer exaggerating small differences, or we can roll up our sleeves and help him to deliver the change our party and country needs. That is the choice I am making and I hope that everyone else will back Andy, too.”

Prior to the 2024 general election, which saw Labour returned to power after 14 years in opposition, Streeting was shadow secretary of state for health and social care from November 2021 until the 2024 election.

Previously, Streeting served as shadow secretary of state for child poverty (May – November 2021), shadow minister for schools (October 2020 – May 2021) and shadow exchequer secretary to the Treasury (April – October 2020).

Streeting was a prominent backbench critic of Jeremy Corbyn during his tenure as leader of the Labour Party. In July 2019, he hit out at the Labour leadership, arguing that shadow ministers know “in their heart of hearts” the party faces electoral oblivion.

Streeting told a meeting of the Labour First group that “the Corbyn project is hollow and moribund and is damaging our party”.

He added: “I genuinely think that there are lots of MPs who sit at the shadow cabinet table or who stand up at the despatch box as shadow minister who know in their heart of hearts that we are being led by a hollow prospect that is destined to lose a general election.”

In May 2016, Streeting held a private meeting with Corbyn to discuss antisemitism. He publicly described the leadership’s approach as “flat-footed and lackadaisical attitude that we’ve seen from the outset. It is simply unacceptable.”

In 2018, Streeting predicted, apparently jokingly, that he would be prime minister in 10 years time.

Streeting is a patron of LGBT+ Labour – a socialist society formally affiliated with the Labour Party.

Streeting was a member of the House of Commons Treasury select committee from July 2015 to November 2019.

Streeting delivered his maiden speech on 9 June 2015 during a debate on the European Union Referendum Bill.

In it, he said: “Ilford North is a great place to live, though it is not without its challenges. Our schools are excellent, but oversubscribed. Our NHS services are cherished, but people are waiting too long to see a GP and to get a hospital appointment.

“Post-war housing development has given generations the chance to enjoy our country parks and open spaces, but rents are becoming unaffordable and home ownership is a pipe dream for too many.”

He added: “For as long as I continue to enjoy this privilege of representing the people of Ilford North, I will fight for a future in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many, not the few. Every day that I arrive in this place, I will never forget who sent me here.”

Before entering parliament, Streeting served as a Labour councillor on Redbridge London Borough Council from 2010 to 2018. He served as deputy leader of the council from May 2014 until his election as MP in May 2015.  

Political Views

Leadership elections and loyalty

Labour leadership 2020: Streeting was one of 21 Labour MPs who nominated Jess Phillips for the party’s leadership in early 2020. The election was triggered by the resignation of Jeremy Corbyn following the party’s defeat in the 2019 general election, which resulted in Labour’s fewest seats in the House of Commons since 1935.

Phillips, the MP for Birmingham Yardley, had been a prominent critic of Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party. She withdrew from the contest on 21 January 2020, suggesting that she could not “unite all parts of our movement”.

Labour leadership 2015: Streeting was one of 41 Labour MPs who nominated Liz Kendall for the party’s leadership in June 2015. The election followed the resignation of Ed Miliband after the party’s defeat in the 2015 general election. It was the first contest held under the “one member, one vote” system, which replaced the previous electoral college.

Kendall, the shadow minister for care and older people, was viewed as the “Blairite” candidate in the race. She secured 41 nominations from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), exceeding the 35 required to reach the final ballot. She ultimately finished fourth in the contest with 4.5% of the vote.

Corbyn loyalty list: In March 2016, Streeting was labelled (erroneously) as “neutral but not hostile” by the Corbyn leadership in a leaked list which categorised Labour MPs by their perceived loyalty.

Labour leadership 2016: … supported Angela Eagle for the party’s leadership in July 2016. The election was triggered by a challenge to Jeremy Corbyn following the EU referendum, which led to a wave of shadow cabinet resignations and a vote of no confidence supported by 172 MPs.

Eagle, the former shadow first secretary of state, was the first to formally launch a challenge against Corbyn. However, she withdrew from the race on 19 July after attracting fewer nominations than Owen Smith.

Streeting went on to support Smith’s candidacy. Smith, the former shadow work and pensions secretary, was ultimately defeated by Corbyn, who won with an increased mandate of 61.8% of the vote.

Brexit and Europe

Brexit referendum: Streeting supported Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and therefore disagreed with a majority of his constituents, 53.3% of whom voted to Leave.

Article 50: In February 2017, Streeting voted in favour of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. The legislation empowered the prime minister to notify the Council of the European Union of the UK’s intention to withdraw, formally triggering the process set out in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. MPs supported the bill by 498 votes to 114 at second reading.

People’s vote support (2019): Streeting signed a January 2019 statement by Labour MPs calling for a “people’s vote” or second referendum. The statement, signed by 71 Labour MPs, read: “Defeat of the Tory [Brexit] deal in a public vote would give us all a chance to campaign for the anti-austerity policies and a Labour government that deals with the true causes of the Brexit vote, and a reformed Europe that works for all people.”

Remain pledge: During the 2019 general election campaign, Streeting was one of 193 Labour candidates to sign the anti-Brexit “Remain pledge”, drawn up by the campaign group Remain Labour.

It stated: “Labour is committed to a confirmatory referendum, to give you the final say on Brexit. If elected as your Labour MP, I pledge to campaign to Remain in the EU.”

Welfare

Welfare vote (July 2025): Streeting voted in favour of the government’s flagship welfare bill at second reading. The vote came after ministers agreed to significant concessions to avoid defeat via a mass rebellion of Labour MPs on 1 July 2025.

Assisted dying

Streeting voted against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, better known as the assisted dying bill, at both second reading (November 2024) and third reading (June 2025).

In June 2025, Streeting voiced doubts over whether the NHS could afford to establish an assisted dying service.

He stated: “Even with the savings that might come from assisted dying if people take up the service – and it feels uncomfortable talking about savings in this context, to be honest – setting up this service will also take time and money that is in short supply.

“There isn’t a budget for this. Politics is about prioritising. It is a daily series of choices and trade-offs. I fear we’ve made the wrong one.”

Foreign policy and security

Trident renewal (2016): Streeting voted in favour of a government motion calling for the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent system in July 2016. The motion, which was passed by 472 votes to 117, committed the UK to constructing a new fleet of submarines to carry the nation’s nuclear weapons. Labour was split over the issue with 140 of its 230 MPs going against leader Jeremy Corbyn and backing the motion.

Syria airstrikes (2015): Streeting voted against a government motion to extend UK airstrikes against Isis from Iraq into Syria in December 2015. The motion, which was passed by 397 votes to 223 after a ten-hour debate in the House of Commons, authorised the RAF to conduct strikes against Isis targets in Syria.

Palestine

LFPME: Streeting has been listed as a member of Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East (LFPME). The organisation’s stated aim is to promote peace and justice in the region through the application of international law and respect for human rights.

Before Politics

Born Wesley Paul William Streeting in Stepney, East London, on 21 January 1983, he grew up in a council flat in a single-parent family.

He attended Westminster City School, a state comprehensive school in London. He studied history at Selwyn College, Cambridge. During his time at Cambridge, he served as president of the Cambridge University Students’ Union from 2004 to 2005.  

Streeting went on to be elected president of the National Union of Students (NUS), serving a two-year term from 2008 to 2010.  

Streeting’s subsequent career included roles as head of education at the LGBTQ+ rights charity Stonewall, and a public sector consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Streeting also worked briefly for the Labour-aligned organisation Progress/Progressive Britain – a think tank and campaign group associated with the party’s Blairite wing.  

Personal Life

Streeting is openly gay and lives in Redbridge with his partner, Joe Dancey.

Dancey stood unsuccessfully as Labour’s candidate in the Stockton West constituency at the 2024 general election.

In 2024, PinkNews listed Streeting among a number of out LGBTQ+ parliamentarians.

In April 2021, Streeting was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He underwent surgery to remove a kidney and announced in July 2021 that he was cancer-free, returning to frontline politics after a three-month absence.  

At the time, Streeting posted to social media: “I’m over the moon to let you know that after a successful operation, I’m cancer-free, fighting fit and back in action.

“Thank you so much for all of the support I’ve had in recent months. It has meant more than words can say.

“Biggest thanks of all to the NHS. Total heroes.”

Trivia

Streeting’s maternal grandfather was an armed robber. His grandmother became embroiled in his crimes and ended up serving time in Holloway Prison, where she met Christine Keeler.

Streeting briefly quit the Labour Party while a student in opposition to the Iraq War.