The UK health secretary ended days of speculation by formally resigning from the government in a letter he posted on social media, while another rival for the top job emerged hours later.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting is poised to seek the top job after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer dared his challengers to call a formal contest.

The British PM has refused to quit, putting the onus on his critics – including Australian-born MP Catherine West – to launch a formal leadership challenge.

Keir Starmer is on borrowed time as senior cabinet members lose faith in him, but as the drama unfolds, the entire episode piles more embarrassment on the UK government.

Working-class Wigan has long been a UK Labour stronghold, but of the 25 seats up for grabs at the recent local elections, 24 went to populist leader Nigel Farage’s Reform party.

The vessel has arrived in the Canary Islands after the Spanish government overruled a local attempt to block its entry.

Catherine West, a dual British-Australian citizen, took the extraordinary step in a bid to force cabinet ministers to dump Starmer and choose a new leader.

Voters have slashed their support for the governing Labour Party in council elections. But the PM says he’s not walking away, even as his colleagues blame him for the backlash.