Source: YouGov tracker, June 2026. GB adults.
Background & Political Career
Wes Streeting was born in 1983 and grew up in Ilford, east London. He studied History at Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he was President of the Cambridge Union. After graduating he worked at the Higher Education Policy Institute and later for the Tony Blair Institute.
Streeting was first elected MP for Ilford North in the 2015 general election. He served on the Public Accounts Committee and became a vocal backbench critic of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. In 2021 he was diagnosed with kidney cancer and underwent surgery, an experience he has said fundamentally shaped his understanding of the NHS and his commitment to reforming it.
He was appointed Shadow Health Secretary in 2021 and built a reputation for frank language about the state of the health service, including his controversial view that the NHS is “broken” and cannot be fixed with money alone. Following the 2024 Labour landslide he became Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
| Date | Event | Approval Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2024 | Appointed Health Secretary; junior doctor strike deal within weeks | Positive — +12 net initially |
| Sep 2024 | 10 Year Health Plan commissioned; warm media reception | Stable at +8 |
| Nov 2024 | NHS broken comments widely covered; union backlash | -10 points swing |
| Jan 2025 | Private sector expansion announcement; BMA oppose | -8 points |
| Jun 2025 | Waiting list data shows modest improvement in elective backlog | +3 points recovery |
| Nov 2025 | 10 Year Health Plan published; mixed reception | Neutral |
| May 2026 | Net approval -18; best-performing major Cabinet member | Stable |
Approval Rating Trend: 2024–2026
▼ Declined from initial positive ratingNet approval = approve % minus disapprove %. Source: YouGov monthly tracker, GB adults.
Key Controversies
NHS Private Sector Expansion
Streeting argued from his first days in office that the NHS must use private sector capacity to cut waiting lists. He commissioned analysis of NHS Independent Sector Treatment Centres and announced in early 2025 that the government would significantly expand the use of private providers for elective procedures.
UNISON, the BMA and some Labour MPs accused him of paving the way for further privatisation. YouGov polling on the question showed voters split: 44% supported using private providers to reduce waits, 38% opposed it, with 18% unsure. The controversy dragged his overall approval from +8 in September 2024 to -8 by February 2025.
NHS Is Broken Comment
Streeting repeatedly described the NHS as “broken” during the 2024 election campaign and in his early months as Secretary of State. While this resonated with voters frustrated by waiting times, it alarmed NHS staff who felt it demoralised the workforce. The Royal College of Nursing issued a statement asking him to choose his language more carefully.
Policy Record as Health Secretary
Within six weeks of taking office, Streeting negotiated an end to the junior doctor strikes that had run since 2023, securing a pay uplift funded partly by NHS efficiency savings.
Commissioned and published a 10 Year Health Plan covering workforce expansion, technology investment, mental health provision and a shift from hospital to community care.
Introduced a new GP contract requiring practices to offer more same-day and next-day appointments, aiming to reduce pressure on A&E departments.
Launched a dedicated cancer waiting times taskforce targeting the two-week referral standard and the 62-day treatment target, both of which had been consistently missed since 2020.
Polling Outlook
Streeting occupies an unusual position in the Labour Cabinet: he is one of the few ministers whose name recognition and approval rating have been tested independently and consistently by YouGov. His -18 net approval is notably better than Starmer (-44), Reeves (-28) and Rayner (-25), positioning him as a potential future leadership contender.
The NHS remains the single most important issue for Labour voters in polling, and Streeting’s performance on it is central to the government’s electoral prospects. If waiting lists continue to fall, his approval is likely to recover. If the 10 Year Health Plan is seen as too slow or too market-oriented, further decline is possible.
Internal YouGov data shows his strongest support among 25 to 44 year olds (38% approve) and weakest among NHS workers and union-affiliated voters (only 22% approve in that sub-group).
| Month | Approve % | Disapprove % | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2024 | 44% | 32% | +12 |
| Sep 2024 | 42% | 34% | +8 |
| Nov 2024 | 37% | 41% | −4 |
| Jan 2025 | 34% | 50% | −16 |
| Mar 2025 | 33% | 53% | −20 |
| Jun 2025 | 34% | 51% | −17 |
| Sep 2025 | 34% | 51% | −17 |
| Jan 2026 | 33% | 51% | −18 |
| May 2026 | 33% | 51% | −18 |
Source: YouGov tracker, GB adults.
Labour Leadership Contender?
Streeting is consistently mentioned as a potential future Labour leader in political media. His name recognition, policy profile, and relative resilience compared to other Cabinet members position him as a credible succession candidate if Labour enters a period of post-2029 leadership contest.
His -18 net approval is notably better than every other senior Labour figure polled. He is the only Cabinet member consistently polled as an individual — itself a marker of political significance. Younger voters (25-44) back him at 38%, suggesting cross-demographic appeal that goes beyond his specific NHS brief.
The main risk to his leadership profile is his NHS privatisation-adjacent positioning. A significant worsening of NHS performance, or a high-profile scandal involving private providers, could fatally damage the narrative he has built as the reformer who “got things done” in health.
| Labour Minister | Net Approval (June 2026) | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Wes Streeting | −18 | Best-polling senior Cabinet member |
| Rachel Reeves | −28 | Chancellor — fiscal tightening backlash |
| Angela Rayner | −25 | Deputy PM — housing delivery under scrutiny |
| Keir Starmer | −44 | PM — worst approval of any UK leader |
Source: YouGov tracker, June 2026. GB adults.
NHS Issue Trust: Voters on the Parties
The NHS is consistently the most important issue for Labour voters and the second most important issue for the GB electorate overall. How voters rate each party’s NHS credibility directly shapes Streeting’s political standing.
| Issue / Question | Labour | Conservatives | Reform UK | Lib Dems |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best party on NHS | 34% | 16% | 10% | 14% |
| Use private sector to cut waits (support) | 44% support / 38% oppose / 18% unsure | |||
| NHS waiting lists improved under Labour | 31% yes / 44% no / 25% unsure (YouGov, Apr 2026) | |||
| Satisfied with NHS overall | 28% satisfied / 62% dissatisfied (Ipsos, Mar 2026) | |||
| Streeting handling NHS well | 33% yes / 51% no (YouGov, June 2026) | |||
Labour retains the largest NHS trust lead — but the gap has narrowed since 2024. NHS satisfaction levels are near record lows, creating both risk and opportunity for Streeting’s reform agenda.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wes Streeting’s approval rating in 2026?
As of June 2026, Wes Streeting has a net approval rating of −18, with 33% approving and 51% disapproving. This represents a fall from +12 at entry in July 2024, driven primarily by the NHS privatisation controversy and union backlash. Despite the decline he remains the best-polling senior Labour Cabinet member.
Why is Wes Streeting controversial on the NHS?
Streeting has argued the NHS must use private sector capacity to cut waiting lists and described the health service as “broken”. This created serious opposition from UNISON, the BMA and some Labour MPs who accused him of preparing the ground for privatisation. YouGov polling shows voters split: 44% support using private providers to cut waits, 38% oppose it. NHS satisfaction polling →
What has Wes Streeting achieved as Health Secretary?
His most significant achievements are: ending the junior doctor strikes within six weeks of taking office in July 2024; commissioning and publishing the 10 Year Health Plan for the NHS; introducing a new GP contract aimed at increasing same-day and next-day appointments; and launching a dedicated cancer waiting times taskforce targeting the 62-day treatment standard.
What is Wes Streeting’s political background?
Streeting was born in 1983 and grew up in Ilford, east London. He studied History at Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he was President of the Cambridge Union, and worked at the Higher Education Policy Institute. He was first elected MP for Ilford North in 2015, was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2021, and served as Shadow Health Secretary from 2021 before becoming Health Secretary after the July 2024 election.
How does Wes Streeting compare to other Cabinet members in polling?
Streeting is the best-polling senior Cabinet member in May 2026 with a net approval of −18, compared to Keir Starmer (−44), Rachel Reeves (−28) and Angela Rayner (−25). This relative resilience positions him as a credible future Labour leadership contender. His strongest sub-group is 25–44 year olds (38% approve); his weakest is NHS workers and union-affiliated voters (22% approve).
What is Wes Streeting’s record on NHS waiting lists?
NHS waiting lists stand at approximately 6.2 million in June 2026, down from a peak of 7.8 million in mid-2023. The reduction began before Labour took office, but Streeting has maintained the trajectory with the private sector expansion and the 10 Year Health Plan. 44% of voters say he should be doing more on waits; 33% say progress is satisfactory. NHS polling →
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