Wes Streeting accused of dog whistle politics over campaign letter

A letter from British Health Secretary Wes Streeting has drawn condemnation for accusing independent candidates of being "divisive" and "more focused on foreign conflicts." The comments are widely interpreted as a reference to the challenge from candidates campaigning on the UK's stance on the war in Gaza, an issue prominent in his East London constituency. Streeting nearly lost his seat in 2024 to a British-Palestinian independent candidate who focused on the conflict. Critics, including fellow Labour MP John McDonnell, have accused the letter of employing dog-whistle politics.