YVETTE COOPER CRITICISES STARMER'S LEADERSHIP STYLE AS HEALTH SECRETARY

Yvette Cooper, the health secretary, has criticised Keir Starmer's approach to government, saying Labour "has not done government very well" in the last couple of years. Speaking on the Political Currency podcast, Cooper accused Starmer's No 10 of sidelining her during the launch of an immigration policy when she held the position of home secretary. She characterised Starmer's leadership style as "bring me solutions, not problems", which she suggested did not work effectively in politics.

Cooper cited the May 2025 immigration white paper launch as a specific example of her exclusion from key policy announcements. She said the Home Office had conducted substantial work on the policy, including plans to bring legal migration under control and reforms around illegal migration, but Starmer's office chose to have the prime minister announce it alone. Cooper stated she was not informed in advance of what would be said at the launch, despite sitting in the front row. She contrasted this approach with what she described as a more collaborative style under Andy Burnham.

Cooper told former Conservative chancellor George Osborne that Burnham's leadership welcomed discussion of problems rather than demanding only solutions. She expressed support for forming national consensus around social care policy and reintroducing Sure Start-style children's centres under the new administration. The remarks represent a public critique of her former prime minister's governmental methods during his tenure.