Possible contenders in U.K. Labour Party leadership race

A crow stands on the pavement outside 10 Downing Street, the official residence of Britain's Prime Minister and leader of the Labour party, Keir Starmer, in central London on May 12, 2026. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was battling to remain in his job May 12, as four junior ministers resigned their posts and dozens of lawmakers called for him to step down. But more than 100 Labour members of parliament signed a statement throwing their support behind their leader, highlighting the deep divisions within the beleaguered ruling Labour party. Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS /AFP via Getty Images

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As embattled British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a likely leadership contest, several rivals are getting into position to stand against him to lead the Labour party and the country.

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If a leadership race is triggered, the winner will be selected by the party membership. Here are the possible contenders:

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Wes Streeting

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The 43-year-old rising Labour star resigned as health minister Thursday with a barbed message saying he had “lost confidence” in Starmer.

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He urged debate on the party’s future direction with the “best possible field of candidates”, rather than launching a solo bid.

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Wes Streeting arrives for a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in London on July 16, 2024. Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL /AFP via Getty Images

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Streeting, whose full name is Wesley, was one of the most visible Labour figures during the 2024 election campaign and hailed as one of its best communicators. Streeting is popular on the party’s right.

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He comes from a working-class background, growing up on an east London municipal housing estate he has described as “grim” and attending state school.

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Streeting has talked about his grandfather being an armed robber who knew notorious London gangsters the Kray Brothers. After studying at Cambridge University, he was elected an MP in 2015.

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He came out as gay while a student. His partner is a communications adviser.

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In a potentially damaging connection, Streeting initially defended Labour grandee Peter Mandelson when he was sacked as US ambassador over his association with US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

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Streeting has denied he was close friends with Mandelson.

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Angela Rayner

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Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner hinted at standing this week when she announced she has resolved a tax issue that led her to leave the government.

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Rayner is well-liked on Labour’s left-wing and known for her straight-talking style.

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FILE: Angela Rayner, Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister, attends the South by SouthWest London (SXSW London), June 5, 2025, in London. Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth /AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

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The 46-year-old is an outlier in a country long dominated by a ruling class disproportionately educated at private schools and Oxford and Cambridge universities.

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She grew up in social housing in northern England, left school at 16 when she became a single mother.

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A trade unionist before being elected to parliament in 2015, she was became Labour’s number two in 2020.

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She resigned last year over unpaid property tax but said Thursday she had paid up and been cleared of deliberate wrongdoing.

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Rayner has three children. One of her sons has a serious disability.

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Andy Burnham

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Popular mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham needs to become an MP before any leadership bid and has announced his intention to stand in a by-election.

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He said he wanted to return to parliament because “much bigger change is needed at a national level”.

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FILE: Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Manchester, arrives at a meeting during the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool, England, Sept. 29, 2025. Photo by Jon Super /AP Photo/Jon Super

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The 56-year-old, seen as representing Labour’s “soft left”, became an MP in 2001 and served as health minister under Gordon Brown

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After twice standing unsuccessfully for party leader, he left parliament in 2017 to become mayor of the northern England metropolis.