London MP Catherine West doubled down on her threat to launch a coup against Sir Keir Starmer in a live TV clash with a Cabinet minister.
Hornsey and Friern Barnet MP Ms West appeared on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show alongside Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.
London MP Catherine West and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show
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Asked about her message to Ms Phillipson, Ms West said: “There’s nothing stopping Bridget from standing.
“Why are the all the men better than the women?”
She added; “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.”
The Cabinet minister responded: “I love you dearly, Catherine, but I just disagree on this one.”
Earlier, appearing on Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Ms Phillipson said Ms West was “completely wrong” to threaten a leadership challenge.
She admitted that Labour had got a “kicking” from voters in the May 7 elections but argued that moves to oust the Prime Minister was not “the answer”.
The Cabinet minister said Sir Keir would set out a “fresh direction” for the Government on Monday to rise to the challenges that it and the country are facing.
Sir Keir Starmer is battling to stay Prime Minister
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Ms West said she would listen to the speech before deciding whether to press ahead with her attempt to gain the support of 81 Labour MPs to trigger a leadership challenge against Sir Keir.
The party lost nearly 1,500 council seats in England at it was hammered by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the regions and by Zack Polanski’s Green Party in London.
Brent, Enfield, Haringey Southwark and Lambeth fell to no overall control after decades of Labour rule.
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Green Party leader Zack Polanski and Zoe Garbett celebrate their victory in London’s Hackney
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The Greens won 441 seats, the Liberal Democrats 155, with the Tories also hit by dire results, losing 563.
Labour was also ousted from power in Wales and was hit by further losses in Scotland.
Sir Keir Starmer has brought back Gordon Brown as a special envoy on finance
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But the appointments were criticised by some MPs as a throwback to the past and out of tune with the party’s commitment to deliver change for the country.
Brent West MP Barry Gardiner said Sir Keir should go to “save the country”.
Veteran Leftwinger John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, urged the PM to “put party and country first” as the election results suggested Mr Farage could be heading to No10.
Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell is urging Sir Keir Starmer to put “party and country first” as he decides on his future
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Dozens of backbench Labour MPs have voiced concerns over the Government’s direction after the election mauling.
But some MPs were rallying to support the PM and it was not yet clear if Ms West would succeed in getting the support of 81 MPs, 20% of the party in the Commons, to trigger a contest.
If she did, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Health Secretary Wes Streeting are expected to run, with possible other candidates including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns.
Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham have all been touted as a potential replacement for Sir Keir (PA)
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Former Labour leader Ed Miliband, the Net Zero Secretary, may come under pressure to stand as a unity candidate.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is seen by some Labour MPs as the strongest contender but he was blocked by Labour chiefs, including Sir Keir, in his attempt to return to Parliament at the Gorton and Denton by-election.
