Labour MP Catherine West, who launched a surprise challenge to leader Keir Starmer over the weekend, has scaled back her demands after failing to secure sufficient support. West, who represents Hornsey and Friern Barnet, initially sought nominations from 80 Labour MPs to trigger a leadership contest, but on Monday shifted to a less ambitious plan: asking colleagues to pressure Starmer to set a September deadline for his departure.
West's move was widely described as a 'stalking horse' bid, intended to encourage a more senior figure to step forward. However, no cabinet minister took the bait. Colleagues were critical, with one MP calling the effort 'fundamentally unserious' and another noting that 'most people are giving her a wide berth'. West herself admitted she had no preferred candidate, saying 'that's part of the problem'.
The MP, a former Foreign Office minister born in Australia, was motivated by Labour's poor local election results, which saw the party lose control of Haringey Council, where her constituency is located. A friend said she was 'terrified at the idea of Reform just walking into Downing Street' and believed the party needed a 'street fighter' to counter them. West argued that Starmer could be moved to a different role, such as foreign secretary.
West's challenge also sparked concerns among some Labour MPs about an accelerated leadership contest, with supporters of Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham preferring a slower timetable to allow him to re-enter parliament. Others worried that a rushed process would feel like a 'stitch-up or a coup'. West dismissed Burnham's candidacy, noting he is 'not here on the spot'.
Despite her initial claims of being 'inundated with names', West failed to gather the required 80 signatures. She now plans to email all Labour MPs asking if they want Starmer to set a September deadline to step down, hoping a large enough list of names will apply pressure without forcing a contest.
