Labour MP Catherine West has issued a warning to cabinet ministers, indicating that she will challenge Keir Starmer’s leadership if they do not take action. West, a former junior foreign office minister, has given ministers a deadline until Monday to internally select a new leader to avoid a formal leadership contest. She emphasized the importance of having a cabinet member step up as the new leader to facilitate a smooth transition within the party.
If cabinet ministers fail to act, West intends to put herself forward as a leadership contender and seek support from Labour MPs. To trigger a leadership contest, a challenger would need backing from at least 81 fellow Labour MPs, of which West claims to have secured ten supporters already. Notably, West expressed surprise that other potential leadership contenders such as Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner have not yet made their intentions known.
In a strategic move, West suggested that Prime Minister Keir Starmer could be assigned a different role, possibly in an international capacity, to pave the way for new leadership. She emphasized the need for effective communication and a fresh approach to engage with voters and address concerns raised by the recent election results.
West emphasized the urgency of the situation by setting a deadline for Monday morning for potential leadership hopefuls to come forward. If necessary, she is prepared to rally support from Parliamentary Labour Party members to endorse her candidacy. West highlighted the need for a leader who can effectively convey Labour’s values and policies to the public.
As the MP for Hornsey and Friern Barnet since 2015, West previously served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific. Her proposal for a leadership change comes in the wake of the party’s focus on rejuvenating its message and connecting with voters following recent electoral challenges.