Wes Streeting, the UK Health Secretary, finds himself at the center of a political and public health storm as he faces mounting pressure on multiple fronts. On February 9, 2026, Streeting was urged to launch a public inquiry into the controversial pregnancy drug diethylstilbestrol (DES), even as speculation about his potential ascent to Labour leadership intensified amid a scandal involving Lord Peter Mandelson. At the same time, his record on trans rights has come under sharp scrutiny, raising questions about the direction of the Labour Party and the future of healthcare policy in Britain.
DES, a synthetic form of the female hormone oestrogen, was prescribed to thousands of pregnant women in the UK and across Europe from the 1940s until 1978. The drug was intended to prevent miscarriage, premature labor, and other complications of pregnancy. It was also used to suppress breast milk production, as emergency contraception, and to treat menopause symptoms. However, in 1971, US regulators linked DES to clear cell adenocarcinoma, a rare cancer of the cervix and vagina, and called for its discontinuation in pregnant women. Despite this, the drug continued to be prescribed in Europe for another seven years.
According to The Telegraph, DES has since been associated with a host of serious health issues, including breast, pancreatic, and cervical cancers, as well as early menopause and infertility. Victims and campaigners argue that the full scale of the harm caused by DES has yet to be acknowledged. The campaign group DES Justice UK (DJUK) is pushing for a statutory public inquiry and the creation of an NHS screening program to identify and support those affected by DES exposure.
Susie Martin, a 55-year-old from Manchester whose mother was prescribed DES, has undergone between 20 and 30 operations as a result. She described her experience bluntly: "The impact of this terrible drug cannot be underestimated as it has ruined and devastated so many lives, including my own. The physical and emotional pain has been unbearable. I always have this impending doom hanging over me that I will need further surgeries or develop cancer, and I am far from the only one." Martin added, "This has been the silent scandal for too long and I am grateful to my legal team that our voices are finally being heard. While I am pleased that Mr Streeting is meeting us, it will only be significant if he actually pledges to do something for the victims of this shameful period in British medical history, including a screening programme and a full statutory public inquiry."
Clare Fletcher, a partner at Broudie Jackson Canter representing DJUK, echoed these sentiments: "We are delighted that Wes Streeting has kept his word and is meeting with us, but words will only go so far. This is one of the biggest pharmaceutical scandals this country has ever seen and we are demanding answers as to how this drug could have been prescribed to so many for so long. The only way to get the truth is with a statutory public inquiry and I hope Mr Streeting will listen to us and give us the far-reaching investigation this scandal needs."
In November 2025, Streeting publicly apologized for the state's failure to protect DES victims and urged those who believe they may have been affected to consult their GPs. Despite this, the UK remains without a compensation scheme for DES victims, unlike the US and the Netherlands. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson acknowledged the ongoing suffering caused by DES, stating, "There are harrowing accounts of harm caused by the historic use of Diethylstilbestrol (DES). Some women and their relatives are still suffering from the associated risks of this medicine which have been passed down a generation, and haven’t been supported." The spokesperson added that NHS England has alerted all cancer alliances to the issue and reminded healthcare professionals of existing NHS screening guidance for those showing signs of DES exposure.
As Streeting grapples with the DES scandal, his political future is also under the microscope. With Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer facing calls to resign following high-profile cabinet departures—including chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, who stepped down after the Peter Mandelson-Jeffrey Epstein controversy—attention has turned to possible successors. Streeting, considered a frontrunner alongside Angela Rayner, has repeatedly denied any attempts to oust Starmer. In a BBC Radio 4 Today interview on November 12, 2025, he called such accusations "self-defeating" and "completely false," insisting, "There are people around the prime minister who do not follow his model and style of leadership."
Nevertheless, Streeting's relationship with Mandelson has come under scrutiny. According to The Times, Streeting has offered to show Labour MPs all his WhatsApp exchanges with Mandelson, asserting he has "nothing to hide" and that there are only "a handful of exchanges" between them. Streeting has publicly condemned Mandelson's actions as "totally wrong," describing them as "stupid, irresponsible and reckless." His allies accuse rivals of weaponizing the Epstein scandal to damage his leadership prospects, while Rayner's supporters argue that Streeting is "tainted" by his association with Mandelson.
Meanwhile, Streeting's record on trans rights has sparked fierce debate within and beyond the Labour Party. As reported by PinkNews, critics warn that a Streeting-led government would "devastate" the trans community, citing his repeated statements that trans women are not women and trans men are not men. In September 2025, in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that defined sex as 'biological,' Streeting suggested creating "third spaces" for trans people in public venues, including hospitals and sporting facilities. During a Mumsnet interview, he explained, "I think for trans women, yes, I think that is where we’re looking. I know there will be lots of people, probably some Mumsnet users, and there’ll be lots of people in the LGBT community and allies who would say that that’s outrageous, I can’t believe you’re even saying that, and you’re a gay health secretary, how could you countenance this."
Streeting's tenure as Health Secretary has also seen the implementation of a ban on puberty blockers for trans youth—a policy widely criticized for its impact on mental health. A government-commissioned study found that the majority of trans youth, previously "well-adjusted," developed significant mental health issues, with many becoming suicidal after the ban. In April 2025, Streeting apologized for the "fear and anxiety" caused by the policy, but maintained the ban and even proposed expanding it to private hormone treatments.
The Labour Party now faces a period of uncertainty. With leadership speculation at a fever pitch, rival camps are weighing their options. Some believe Rayner has a window of opportunity to challenge for the leadership, while others caution that unresolved issues—including an ongoing HMRC tax probe—could complicate matters. As one senior Labour MP put it, "Somebody’s going to have to make a move. The worst thing for them is if they don’t make a move, they just wither on the vine. It’s damaging the country and the party."
For Wes Streeting, the coming weeks will be pivotal. Whether he can navigate the fallout from the DES scandal, the Mandelson controversy, and criticism over trans rights may well determine both his political future and the fate of key public health issues in the UK.