Wes Streeting\u2019s potential leadership bid has been the subject of mockery from figures within Labour, while the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch\u2019s slapdown of the now former health secretary in the Commons on Wednesday went viral on social media.<\/p>\n
However, in Streeting\u2019s parliamentary seat of Ilford North, his constituents seem rather fond of him and pleased with the prospect that their MP could get the keys to No 10. Lesley, who works in Tesco in Barkingside, said: \u201cHe\u2019d be very good. He comes into Tesco\u2019s a lot, he\u2019s a nice man. He talks to all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
And some people are indeed sick of Keir Starmer\u2019s premiership. Lesley asked: \u201cIs [Streeting] getting rid of Starmer?\u201d and then gave two thumbs up.<\/p>\n
Streeting ranks third<\/a> with the general public among potential leadership contenders, according to YouGov, with Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner in front. He is less popular with Labour members, who put him fourth<\/a> behind Burnham, Rayner and Ed Miliband.<\/p>\n Streeting announced on Thursday that he was resigning as health secretary<\/a>, paving the way for a potential challenge against Starmer. He has a slim majority of just 528 in Ilford North but even those who support other parties seemed pleased he was potentially up for the leadership. It seems the prospect of Streeting becoming prime minister has boosted his profile locally.<\/p>\n Paul Hipkins: \u2018I\u2019ve seen him around, I like him.\u2019 Photograph: Martin Godwin\/The Guardian<\/p>\n Paul Hipkins, strolling down Barkingside high street, said he would like a new prime minister but \u201cI\u2019d prefer Nigel Farage\u201d. He said the leadership election within Labour<\/a> \u201ccould go wrong and cause more problems\u201d but he liked Streeting. \u201cI\u2019ve seen him around, I like him.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a general feeling of political fatigue around the Ilford North constituency. Amber, 21, sipping a latte in a Barkingside cafe, said: \u201cA lot of things Labour has done have backfired, but it\u2019s a whole party problem, it can\u2019t be changed by changing the leader.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they hold a general election, they won\u2019t win, and a lot of people are scared Reform might win. Changing leader might not be the best thing in terms of stability and it\u2019s what Reform wanted \u2013 one of their slogans was \u2018get Starmer out\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Rochelle Clifford: \u2018He can\u2019t be worse than the idiot we\u2019ve got.\u2019 Photograph: Martin Godwin\/The Guardian<\/p>\n Rochelle Clifford, a 67-year-old teacher, agreed. \u201cIt could be dangerous changing leader \u2013 the last lot did it, look what Liz Truss did to this country.\u201d<\/p>\n But she wouldn\u2019t mind Streeting as prime minister. \u201cHe can\u2019t be worse than the idiot we\u2019ve got. He\u2019s not a bad local MP. They won\u2019t choose him as he only just won his seat, but I like him. He is around a lot, he\u2019s very personable, he\u2019s very visible and approachable in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n Indeed, almost everyone spoken to by the Guardian said they had met Streeting in the cafes and supermarkets of the constituency and he was always up for a chat. Jamila Amin, 54, stopped while doing her grocery shop to say: \u201cHe\u2019s a good man. I think he would make a good prime minister, but I think Keir Starmer should be given a chance. He is being blamed for a lot of things that aren\u2019t his fault. He is doing his best.\u201d<\/p>\n Jamila Amin: \u2018I think he would make a good prime minister.\u2019 Photograph: Martin Godwin\/The Guardian<\/p>\n Up the road in Gants Hill, people were tucking into their breakfasts at the Station cafe, where Streeting is often spotted having a coffee or digging into a fry-up. The owner, Mahmed Firuz, said: \u201cI like him very much, he comes in a lot. I think he is a good man, he is very friendly.\u201d<\/p>\n Would he mind if Streeting swapped Ilford North and his local cafe for No 10? \u201cWe need a change of prime minister, and he could be good,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n It may not be surprising that he\u2019s pressed so many palms and is such a fixture locally: Streeting has been campaigning hard to boost his majority and avoid losing the seat in the next general election. His team has pointed to Redbridge\u2019s performance in the recent local elections. Widely tipped to go to the independent candidates, Labour won with a healthy majority<\/a> and bucked the national trend of losses.<\/p>\n Wes Streeting in Downing Street on Tuesday. Photograph: Toby Melville\/Reuters<\/p>\n Streeting said at the count: \u201cTo all of those naysayers who claimed I couldn\u2019t win Ilford North at the next general election, I will be standing in Ilford North at the next general election. This is my home, I\u2019ve served this community for well over a decade, I\u2019m not going anywhere, I\u2019m in it to win it.\u201d<\/p>\n Iliana, a social worker enjoying a mid-morning coffee in Gants Hill, also likes Streeting. \u201cI live in Redbridge and every time me and my sister have written to him he\u2019s been very responsive,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She doesn\u2019t want a change of prime minister though. \u201cJust leave him to do his job. What\u2019s happened to the world today \u2013 I think this country needs stabilising and everything feels so unstable. Starmer has a tough job. Though his Mandelson decision was \u2013 how shall I put it? \u2013 unwise.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked if Streeting would be a good prime minister, she laughed and said: \u201cWell, he\u2019d be a lot better than Farage. [Streeting] does seem like a serious person. When I see him, I think \u2018leadership\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Get in touch<\/p>\n Contact us about this story<\/p>\n The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know. If you have something to share on this subject, you can contact us confidentially using the following methods:<\/p>\n Secure Messaging in the Guardian app<\/p>\n The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS<\/a>\/Android<\/a>) and go to the menu. Select \u2018Secure Messaging\u2019. <\/p>\n SecureDropIf you can safely use the tor network without being observed or monitored you can send messages and documents to the Guardian via our SecureDrop platform.<\/a><\/p>\n