'We need to move quickly', says Labour MP seeking to challenge PM

"“We have a problem and we need to move quickly,” Labour MP Catherine West has said as she defended her efforts to trigger a leadership challenge against the prime minister. The north London MP has said she would prefer to see a Cabinet member put themselves forward to replace Sir Keir Starmer but that she would consider doing so herself if they did not act. Speaking to the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, West said she would listen to Sir Keir's planned relaunch speech on Monday but would mount a challenge if she remained “dissatisfied”."

"Addressing the MP directly on the same programme, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “I love you dearly Catherine, but we just disagree on this one”. The senior minister acknowledged her party had taken “a real kicking” from voters in Thursday's elections but said it was not a sign Labour should “spend time talking amongst ourselves, arguing amongst ourselves, fighting amongst ourselves”. “We do need to tell a better story, we do need to deliver faster,” she said."

"West. a former junior minister, is not bidding to be the next Labour leader and prime minister herself, but by triggering a leadership contest she would be aiming to flush out heavyweight contenders she thinks could do a better job than Sir Keir. In order to trigger a leadership contest, 20% of Labour MPs - 81 people - would have to back her. She has said she currently has 10 MPs who would be prepared to endorse her. More than 30 Labour MPs have publicly called for the prime minister to resign or to set out a timetable for his departure."

"West told the BBC: “I will hear what the prime minister's got to say tomorrow and, then if I'm still dissatisfied, I will put out my email to the Parliamentary”"

A Labour MP said she needs to move quickly to address dissatisfaction with the prime minister and defended efforts to trigger a leadership challenge. She said she would listen to the prime minister’s planned relaunch speech but would mount a challenge if she remained dissatisfied. She preferred a Cabinet member to come forward to replace Sir Keir Starmer, but she would consider doing so herself if others did not act. The Education Secretary responded with disagreement while acknowledging Labour’s electoral losses. The party lost nearly 1,500 councillors in England, lost power in Wales, and placed joint second in Scotland. The MP said a leadership contest would help surface contenders who could do better and noted that 20% of Labour MPs would be required to trigger it.

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