Many Labour MPs believe Sir Keir Starmer will not remain leader long enough to contest the next election, but they disagree on how his departure might occur. The Labour rulebook makes it notoriously difficult to unseat a party leader; none has been formally ejected in the postwar period, though some, including Tony Blair, resigned under pressure from MPs.
A curveball emerged on Saturday when backbencher Catherine West launched a leadership challenge. West, MP for Hornsey and Friern Barnet and a former junior Foreign Office minister sacked in last year's reshuffle, announced she would challenge Starmer unless a cabinet minister did so by Monday morning.
If Labour does wish to oust Starmer, here are four possible routes. First, a formal leadership challenge under party rules, requiring 20% of Labour MPs and MEPs to nominate a challenger. Second, a vote of no confidence by MPs, which could pressure Starmer to resign. Third, a rebellion by the party's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC). Fourth, a wave of public and private pressure from senior figures, forcing Starmer to step down voluntarily.
