Labour's Health Secretary Wes Streeting has fired a warning shot at his own party, accusing centre-left politicians of an "excuses culture" when it comes to tackling bureaucratic red tape and blaming Whitehall for delays in implementing change. The criticism is aimed squarely at those who point fingers at the civil service as a hindrance to progress, Streeting argued.
Speaking at a conference for the Institute for Government, Streeting said his party had been guilty of parroting the same argument that has been used by hard-right politicians to dismantle public services. "This excuses culture does our side no favours," he stated. "If we tell the public that we can't make anything work, then why on earth would they vote to keep us in charge?"
Streeting likened the state to a shopping trolley with a wonky wheel, which is prone to veering towards the status quo. However, he stressed that this was no excuse for poor steering – governments should be taking control and driving change, not relying on excuses.
The Health Secretary also warned that failure to address public service reform would lead to disaffection, cynicism, and even the rise of populists. He highlighted the pressing need for modernization in healthcare and other services to keep pace with surging demand and changing citizen expectations.
Streeting's comments come as Labour faces growing criticism from voters over its handling of key policy areas, including healthcare. Ipsos polling released at the conference showed that the public gives the party low marks for its performance so far – a score of just 3.6 out of 10 on average.
The polling also revealed that voters' top priorities in 2026 include tackling cost-of-living inflation and addressing issues like healthcare, immigration, and even mental health support. With Streeting's comments serving as a call to action for his party, the stakes are high – can Labour recover from its current slump by putting forward a compelling vision for change?
Speaking at a conference for the Institute for Government, Streeting said his party had been guilty of parroting the same argument that has been used by hard-right politicians to dismantle public services. "This excuses culture does our side no favours," he stated. "If we tell the public that we can't make anything work, then why on earth would they vote to keep us in charge?"
Streeting likened the state to a shopping trolley with a wonky wheel, which is prone to veering towards the status quo. However, he stressed that this was no excuse for poor steering – governments should be taking control and driving change, not relying on excuses.
The Health Secretary also warned that failure to address public service reform would lead to disaffection, cynicism, and even the rise of populists. He highlighted the pressing need for modernization in healthcare and other services to keep pace with surging demand and changing citizen expectations.
Streeting's comments come as Labour faces growing criticism from voters over its handling of key policy areas, including healthcare. Ipsos polling released at the conference showed that the public gives the party low marks for its performance so far – a score of just 3.6 out of 10 on average.
The polling also revealed that voters' top priorities in 2026 include tackling cost-of-living inflation and addressing issues like healthcare, immigration, and even mental health support. With Streeting's comments serving as a call to action for his party, the stakes are high – can Labour recover from its current slump by putting forward a compelling vision for change?
So like I'm thinking, Wes Streeting is just trying to throw a wrench in the works right? He's like "hey, let's not blame the civil service all the time" but at the same time he's also saying that his own party is guilty of making excuses. It's kinda funny how he compares the government to a shopping trolley with a wonky wheel 
. I mean, it's a solid analogy, but can it really be used to make a point about public service reform? The thing is, if Labour wants to recover from its slump, they need to step up their game and show the people that they're serious about making change happen 
. Streeting's comments are definitely a call to action, but will his party take it seriously or just use it as an excuse 
?
. He's calling out his own party for making excuses instead of taking responsibility for their policies. It's like when you're trying to adult but keep blaming your parents for your mess 
. Seriously though, I think he's right on point – we need some tough love from our politicians to make progress happen! 
! Like, come onLabour, stop blaming Whitehall and take control of your own destiny 
. I mean, I know it's easy to say the civil service is slow to implement change, but it sounds like they're just trying to help you do better 
. The whole "excuses culture" thing just feels like a cop-out to me 
. We need Labour to step up and show us what they're really about 
! Streeting's right, we need modernization and innovation ASAP 
. Can't wait to see what Labour comes up with next 
! like wes streeting is trying to say that labour isn't doing enough but it's not all their fault 
they're right to point out that the civil service can be slow to change, but at the same time we need more accountability from our leaders 
it's about taking control and driving progress not just blaming everyone else 
. if they can't even get healthcare sorted, how are they gonna tackle inflation or immigration issues in 2026? 
. If they can get their act together, I think they might be able to turn this slump around 
.
. Governments need to take ownership of the issues and lead change, not hide behind bureaucratic red tape 
It's time for a fresh approach and some real leadership 
. We need to demand more from them and make sure they're working for us, not just making excuses 
. The future of public services is at stake here, and that's something we should all be paying attention to 
.
maybe it's not just about us politicians, but also about buildin those systems from the ground up 
. And honestly, I'm a bit skeptical about this whole "stake your claim for change" vibe