Labour backbench MP Catherine West has stepped back from her earlier threat to trigger a formal leadership challenge against Prime Minister Keir Starmer, but has continued to call for him to resign and allow a leadership contest by September.
In a statement, West confirmed she would no longer push immediately for a leadership contest. However, she said she is continuing to gather support among Labour MPs to pressure Starmer into setting out a clear timetable for a leadership election later in the year.
“I am collecting names of Labour MPs to call on the prime minister to set a timetable for the election of a new leader in September,” she said, signalling that while the immediate challenge has been paused, internal pressure within the party remains active.
Her comments come amid growing unease within parts of the Labour Party following recent disappointing election results and concerns about the government’s political direction.
West had previously indicated she would attempt to force a leadership contest if no senior cabinet minister stepped forward to challenge Starmer directly. That challenge has now been withdrawn, at least for the time being, meaning no immediate leadership contest mechanism is expected to be triggered unless another MP takes up the cause.
According to political reporting, the shift means Labour avoids an immediate internal leadership battle that could have destabilised the party. However, it also highlights ongoing tensions within the party over Starmer’s leadership and strategy.
Following the election setbacks, Starmer delivered a speech aimed at unifying the party and reinforcing confidence in his government. He acknowledged that mistakes had been made but defended his overall approach.
“Like every government, we’ve made mistakes… but we got the big political choices right,” he said, while vowing to prove internal critics wrong and strengthen his leadership.
Despite his efforts to steady the party, dissatisfaction remains among some Labour MPs and senior figures. Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has publicly stated that “what we are doing isn’t working,” reflecting wider concerns about direction and performance within the party.
Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has also been drawn into internal Labour discussions, with some figures suggesting he should not have been blocked from returning to Westminster politics as an MP. His name has repeatedly surfaced in speculation about future leadership alternatives, although he has not formally entered any contest.
Political analysts say West’s statement reflects a broader balancing act inside Labour: avoiding a destabilising leadership crisis while still applying pressure for change. Chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman noted that there was a brief moment where a leadership challenge could have been formally initiated, but that possibility has now receded unless another MP steps forward.
Under Labour Party rules, a leadership challenge typically requires a certain level of backing from MPs before triggering a formal contest. Without that threshold being met, the current leader remains in place.
While Starmer remains in office and in control of the party’s leadership structures, the latest developments suggest continued internal debate over strategy, messaging, and electoral performance.
For now, the immediate threat of a leadership contest has been delayed—but calls for renewal within the party continue to grow louder, with September emerging as a potential focal point for renewed internal pressure.
