The crisis within Downing Street is spiraling out of control as the Labour government suffers another devastating blow. Dr. Zubir Ahmed, a Minister in the Department of Health, has officially resigned, becoming the fourth minister to quit the Cabinet in a widening wave of boycotts aimed at toppling Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

A Calculated Exit and the Shadow of Wes Streeting

Dr. Zubir Ahmed’s resignation carries profound political weight. Notably, Ahmed is a close ally of Health Secretary Wes Streeting, working directly under his leadership. Just last week, Dr. Ahmed appeared on television vowing “unconditional loyalty” to the Prime Minister; today, he has turned his back and joined the calls for Starmer’s departure.

Political commentators on GB News suggest that while opposition to Starmer stems from various factions (including the left wing), recent resignations appear to be coalescing around Streeting’s orbit. Previously, one of Streeting’s Parliamentary Private Secretaries (PPS) was among the first to quit, followed by the departure of another close ally, Jess Phillips.

Streeting’s current silence is exerting immense pressure. According to Westminster insiders, a swift coup would favor Streeting in a leadership race. Conversely, if the crisis drags on, the advantage may shift to Andy Burnham (Mayor of Greater Manchester), who requires more time to secure a path back into Parliament.

An “All or Nothing” Gamble

Observers believe Wes Streeting is facing a “now or never” moment. Despite the long-standing Westminster curse that “he who wields the dagger never wears the crown,” history also warns of figures like David Miliband in 2007 or Michael Portillo in 1995, who saw their prime ministerial ambitions vanish because they missed their window. Streeting may be forced to make a formal declaration within hours or days.

Suffocating Atmosphere at Downing Street

As vacancies within the government continue to mount, Downing Street is desperately attempting to project an image of “business as usual.” This afternoon, Prime Minister Keir Starmer maintained his schedule, visiting London South Bank Technical College to discuss apprenticeship policies in an effort to show the government remains functional.

However, correspondents at Number 10 describe the atmosphere as “anything but normal,” drawing parallels to the final, dark days of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. With a growing resignation list and approximately 100 MPs publicly demanding his exit, Keir Starmer’s premiership is under its most severe threat to date. His downfall now appears to be a matter of when, not if.