Labour MP Issues Leadership Challenge Ultimatum
Labour MP Catherine West has declared that if a cabinet minister does not challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the party leadership by Monday, she will seek to initiate a leadership contest herself.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, West expressed her preference for the cabinet to "reorganise themselves" and present their "best communicator" to replace Sir Keir, thereby avoiding a leadership election.
However, following Labour's severe losses in recent elections, West stated she was putting the cabinet "on notice" and if no leadership candidate emerged by Monday, she would request Labour MPs to support her in triggering a contest.
To initiate such a contest, 20% of Labour MPs—81 members—must back the motion.
West, a former junior Foreign Office minister, indicated she currently has the support of 10 MPs willing to back her leadership bid but expressed confidence that enough MPs would come forward to meet the threshold.
"My preferred option is for the cabinet to do a reshuffle within itself, where there's plenty of talent, and for Keir to be given a different role, which he might enjoy, perhaps an international role," said West, MP for Hornsey and Friern Barnet, on Radio 4's PM programme.
"Then for others to come to the fore who can communicate the message, who are very able, so we can have minimum fuss."
However, Cabinet Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds cautioned against West's proposal.
"We've seen over the past 10 years now, what happens when a party in government just starts chopping and changing leaders," he told the programme.
"It just generates instability and it militates against a focus on delivery."
West is not seeking the leadership herself but could encourage others to launch bids. Conversely, if her plan fails and Labour MPs rally behind Sir Keir, his position may be reinforced.
Sir Keir has affirmed he will not "walk away and plunge the country into chaos" following Labour's disappointing election outcomes on Friday.
Cabinet ministers also publicly supported the Prime Minister on social media that evening.
Nonetheless, approximately 30 Labour MPs have publicly called for a leadership change or a timetable for Sir Keir's departure since the election results began to emerge.
Labour lost over 1,400 seats in English council elections, with Reform UK making significant gains in traditional Labour strongholds across northern England and the Midlands.
Meanwhile, the Greens secured control of Waltham Forest, Lewisham, and Hackney in London, areas previously dominated by Labour, and won the party's first-ever elected mayoralties in Hackney and Lewisham.
In Wales, Labour suffered a historic defeat in the Senedd, finishing third behind Plaid Cymru and Reform UK.
Labour also faced substantial losses in the Scottish Parliament election, where the SNP won a fifth consecutive term, and Labour finished a distant second, tied with Reform UK.
Uncertainty Over Leadership Candidates
West did not specify who she believes would be the best successor to Sir Keir.
"I don't have a candidate. That's part of the problem," she said.
"But I think there are several people who would like to do it, who have been planning for months, but I'm very surprised that none of them has popped up today to say 'I will do it'."
West acknowledged Sir Keir's "excellent" work in rebuilding the Labour Party and on foreign policy but noted he has "less of a grip" on the domestic agenda. She emphasized the need for the party to "take the fight to Reform."
West's intervention caught many Labour MPs off guard.
One minister critical of the prime minister described her as "mad."
A prominent backbench critic called it a "totally irresponsible solo mission."
Immigration Minister Mike Tapp criticized West's proposal, stating:
"When those within your own walls begin dismantling the gate, the enemy no longer needs a battering ram. Reform are loving it. Awful from Catherine West and she should know better."
One Labour MP, not a prominent critic of Sir Keir, told the BBC they were surprised by West's interview but intended to support her on Monday.
"I am reasonably confident she will be able to get to 81 [backers]," the MP said.
"The frustration on the backbenches runs far wider than the voices we've heard from publicly. There are far more moderate centrist Labour MPs who also think his time is up."
Some government insiders interpret West's call for the cabinet to select its "best communicator" as tacit support for Health Secretary Wes Streeting, though associates of Streeting deny this.
On Friday, Streeting expressed support for Sir Keir but emphasized accountability.
"We have to take responsibility in government for our mistakes," he said.
When asked if he ruled out a leadership bid, Streeting highlighted Sir Keir's achievements:
"Sir Keir has delivered a majority that people thought was absolutely impossible after the crushing defeat of 2019."
Other potential leadership candidates outside the cabinet include former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who resigned in September over a tax issue related to a flat purchase.
Rayner is reportedly awaiting the conclusion of an HMRC investigation into her tax affairs and may prefer to delay any leadership bid until the findings are released.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has support from many MPs but must be a member of Parliament to stand. Earlier this year, he was blocked from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election and would need to secure another seat and approval from Labour's National Executive Committee to become an MP.
Sir Keir Appoints Advisers Amid Leadership Turmoil
In an effort to strengthen his position, Sir Keir appointed former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former deputy leader Harriet Harman as advisers on Saturday.
The veteran politicians will provide guidance on global finance and tackling violence against women.
However, several Labour MPs expressed confusion and skepticism regarding these appointments.
One usually loyal minister described the move as "a joke," stating:
"There is no question to which bringing these two back is the answer."
Paula Barker, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, expressed respect for both but criticized their acceptance of what she termed "non-jobs."
"I have enormous respect for both Gordon and Harriet, but I would have had even more respect for them if they had declined the offer of, quite frankly, non-jobs and told the prime minister that it's time for a change and he should set out his timetable."
Sir Keir plans to attempt a reset of his premiership next week by delivering a major speech and unveiling a new legislative programme.
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