All eyes on Wes: inside Labour's leadership crisis

Coffee House Shots

May 14, 2026•17 min

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Episode description

Wes Streeting is/was expected to make his move today for the Labour leadership – but does he have the numbers? There was some frantic briefing last night, with competing claims about who has the required number of MPs and who might be prepared to give up their seat to Andy Burnham. It almost takes us back to the days of Tory infighting.

But the big news this morning is that Angela Rayner has been cleared by HMRC. In an incredibly well-timed judgment, there is now nothing standing in her way from making her own bid for the top job. So where are we on Thursday morning? What should we expect from the next 48 hours?

James Heale speaks to Tim Shipman and James Lyons, former director of strategic communications in Number 10.

Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

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