Major changes have taken place in British politics. Wes Streeting has officially taken the helm of the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom, becoming a key figure in the cabinet of the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Within the first days of taking office, the minister formulated the main task of the department and outlined London's position regarding Ukraine.

Security Priority and Support for Kyiv

According to information received from Andy Burnham's office, Streeting publicly stated immediately after his appointment that ensuring national security is an absolute priority for the new government. The Defence Minister emphasized that it is a great honor for him to hold such a responsible position and called for decisive action.

In his statement, Streeting made it clear that the United Kingdom does not intend to weaken its course of supporting allies. "We will ensure that our armed forces have the necessary resources and will stand firmly side by side with our international allies, especially Ukraine," he stated. These words sounded like a direct signal of the continuation of the course of supporting Kyiv, despite the change of power in London.

Who is Wes Streeting?

The new Defence Minister is a politician with a long history of public service. Andy Burnham, who heads the government, is often called one of the most loyal supporters of Ukraine in British politics, and his team is being formed like-minded individuals. Streeting dedicated himself to politics even while studying at university.

Between 2008 and 2010, he led the National Union of Students. Later, his career developed in the field of rights protection and education; in particular, he worked for the charity Stonewall, which deals with LGBT community issues. The politician also had experience working at the local level as a municipal councillor for the London borough of Redbridge.

The Path to the Top of Power

Streeting's parliamentary career began in 2015 when he won the election in the North Ilford constituency. Success was repeated two years later when he won the mandate again, despite the Labour Party suffering a defeat in the general elections as a whole.

In subsequent years, he held a number of responsible posts in the opposition and the government:

  • In 2020, he became the Shadow Junior Minister for Schools.
  • In 2021, he joined Keir Starmer's shadow government, heading the child poverty portfolio.
  • In November 2021, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care.
  • From July 2024 to May 2026, he held the position of Minister for Health and Social Care in Starmer's Labour government.

The change of power in the UK was marked by the first phone call between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who is already being called the "King of the North" in the press. The appointment of Wes Streeting as Defence Minister only confirms that support for Ukraine remains at the center of British foreign policy.