Former minister Catherine West has abandoned plans to launch a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer, but is now calling on Labour MPs to demand the Prime Minister set out a timetable for his resignation by September. In a statement, West said she had listened to Starmer's speech but concluded it was 'too little too late' after Labour's heavy losses in local elections.
West had previously indicated she would challenge Starmer for the party leadership as early as Monday afternoon. However, following his speech in which he vowed not to 'walk away', she said she would instead canvass support for the Prime Minister to outline a departure schedule. 'What is best for the party and country now is for an orderly transition,' she told the Press Association.
The electoral mauling saw Labour lose almost 1,500 English councillors, go backwards in Scotland and slump to third in Wales. So far, 48 Labour MPs have called for Starmer to go, with others threatening to do so if he does not change course. In his speech, Starmer acknowledged he had 'doubters' but insisted he would 'prove them wrong' and fight on.
Starmer set out measures including nationalising British Steel, banning 'far-right agitators' from a planned march, and putting the UK 'at the heart of Europe'. He framed the moment as a 'battle for the soul' of the nation, warning that if Labour failed, the country would head down 'a very dark path'. A handful of backbenchers supported him, but others, including the Blue Labour group, called for a departure timetable.
Attention has also turned to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, with some urging his return to Parliament. Former deputy PM Angela Rayner said the party's decision to block Burnham from a by-election should be 'put right'. Starmer declined to comment, saying it was a matter for Labour's NEC.
