A former Cabinet Office minister and close ally of Sir Keir Starmer has become the latest Labour MP to call for the prime minister's resignation, declaring that he has 'lost the country' and urging him to set a departure timetable.
Josh Simons, who resigned in March amid a probe into claims a Labour think tank he once ran paid to smear journalists, wrote in the Sunday Times: 'This is bigger than any one person. All of us must be honest about these challenges, including those vying to replace the prime minister. We need radicalism, energy, and immense courage.'
His intervention comes as Labour MP Catherine West issued an ultimatum to cabinet members, demanding they challenge Sir Keir by Monday or she will begin formally gathering names to trigger a leadership contest. Speaking on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, West said: 'I will hear what the prime minister has to say tomorrow and, if I'm still dissatisfied, I will put out my email to the Parliamentary Labour Party, asking for names.' She appealed to women in the party to step forward, adding: 'Don't just allow the men to stand. We need to modernise. We're looking very dated.'
Meanwhile, one of Labour's biggest union backers, Unite, has warned the party risks 'going extinct' if it does not change direction. The prime minister has vowed to lead Labour into the next general election and promised closer ties with Europe after disastrous local election results.
However, left-wing MPs have expressed unease with West's approach. Socialist Campaign Group chair Richard Burgon described her plan as a 'palace coup' that would allow cabinet ministers who backed unpopular cuts to decide the party's future. He called instead for a full democratic process involving all MPs, unions, and party members. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell echoed this, warning that the urgency could undermine a 'proper democratic process'.
Allies of West say she has received 'lots of expressions of interest' from MPs and expects to gather the 80 names needed if no leadership rival emerges by Monday. So far, no cabinet minister has indicated they will challenge Starmer.
In other political developments, Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice dismissed questions about a £5 million undeclared gift to Nigel Farage as a 'smear', while Scottish parties faced accusations of 'political posturing' for refusing to engage with Reform after it won its first Holyrood seats.
