A Labour MP threatening to topple Keir Starmer has challenged a Cabinet member to move against the Prime Minister on live television. Catherine West urged Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to put herself forward and bring down the Prime Minister in a dramatic moment in a BBC studio. Earlier, Ms Phillipson had dismissed Ms West's bold challenge after the backbencher called on the Cabinet to select a new leader by Monday.
West's Ultimatum to Cabinet
On Saturday, Ms West dramatically put Cabinet members "on notice" that if they do not remove Mr Starmer, she will. The former Foreign Office minister told ministers that if they do not choose a new leader among themselves, she would put herself forward. To do so, she would need the backing of 81 Labour MPs. However, Ms West said she would listen to what Mr Starmer says in a make-or-break speech on Monday before taking action.
Live TV Exchange
Sitting next to Ms Phillipson on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Ms West said: "There's nothing stopping Bridget from standing. Why are all the men better than the women? We do need some senior women to step forward and to challenge for what is going to be a really difficult two and a half years between now and the general election, and also to take us into that second term." Ms Phillipson responded: "I love you dearly, Catherine, but I just disagree on this one."
Starmer Vows to Fight On
Mr Starmer himself has pledged to continue, telling the Sunday Mirror he wants to see through his 10-year project to change the country. Ms West told Ms Kuenssberg: "If you are a school failing an inspection report, you would take the head out, wouldn't you? Or you take the chair of the council out. The same goes for a hospital inspection or in a company CEO would have to take responsibility and the board would have to basically bring on new leadership." She accused Labour of looking "very dated" and said the party needs to modernise. However, she said she would wait to hear Mr Starmer's Monday speech.
Phillipson's Response
Earlier, asked if she expects Catherine West to get the backing needed to potentially bring down the PM, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: "I don't think that will happen." She told Sky News' Sir Trevor Phillips: "Catherine is a great colleague, and I've known her a long time. And I have real respect for Catherine, but on this one I do part company with her. I think she's got this completely wrong." Ms Phillipson acknowledged the pain within the party: "On Friday morning I felt absolutely sick to the bottom of my stomach about the scale of the defeat that we'd suffered. And we got a real kicking, from the voters."
Government's Future
Asked if Mr Starmer would lead Labour into the next general election, and whether she wanted him to, the Education Secretary said: "Yes, on both counts." Ms Phillipson insisted the Government can still turn things around but admitted Labour had been "too gloomy and too negative" early on. She said: "People knew the country was in a mess. They didn't need us to remind them in such detail... They wanted us to focus on what we as a Government were going to deliver." All eyes will be on Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner, tipped as potential leadership contenders, on whether they will make a move against the PM following Ms West's intervention.
