Catherine West, a Labour MP, has issued a warning to cabinet ministers, indicating that she is prepared to challenge Keir Starmer for the party leadership if they do not take action themselves. West has set a deadline for ministers to convene and select a new leader from within their ranks by Monday. If no decision is reached, West stated that she would nominate herself for the leadership and seek support from fellow Labour MPs, requiring at least 81 endorsements to trigger a leadership contest. Despite having secured ten backers already, West expressed surprise that other potential leadership contenders like Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner have not yet stepped forward.
West also proposed that Prime Minister could be moved to a different role, possibly in an international capacity, to allow for a smoother transition in leadership. Emphasizing the need for effective communication and a clear vision for the party, she urged for a swift resolution to the leadership question to address voter concerns and enhance Labour’s electoral prospects.
As the MP for Hornsey and Friern Barnet since 2015, West previously served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific until September of the past year.
