Labour Party Member of Parliament Catherine West has urged members of the Shadow Cabinet to take the initiative to remove UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer from the party’s leadership.

West stated that if no member of the Shadow Cabinet issues a challenge to Starmer’s leadership by tomorrow—Monday—she herself will attempt to initiate the process for a leadership election. Catherine West made these remarks in an exclusive interview with the BBC.

Questions regarding Keir Starmer’s leadership have arisen following the Labour Party’s disastrous results in the recent local government elections. However, Starmer has firmly stated that he will not resign; he expects to lead the party into the next general election.

Speaking to the BBC, Labour MP Catherine West said she wants the Shadow Cabinet members to organize themselves and select a competent leader to replace Keir Starmer from within their own ranks, thereby avoiding the need for a formal leadership election.

Warning the Shadow Cabinet, West stated that if no potential leadership candidate steps forward by Monday, she will seek the support of Labour MPs to trigger a leadership contest.

To initiate a move to oust Starmer, the support of at least 20 percent of Labour MPs is required. This means that 81 MPs would need to back West’s initiative.

West noted that 10 MPs are currently ready to support her in the battle to bring about a change in the party’s leadership. However, she remains “confident” that a sufficient number of additional MPs will come forward.

Speaking on Radio 4’s PM programme, the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green further emphasized that she wants the Shadow Cabinet to select a leader from among their own members, noting that there are many qualified individuals within that group.

According to West, Starmer could be assigned another role of his choosing—perhaps an international position.

However, Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds sounded a note of caution regarding this proposal. He stated, “We have seen over the last 10 years what happens when a party in government starts changing its leader repeatedly. It only creates instability and disrupts the work of the government.”

West herself is not seeking to become the leader of the Labour Party. However, this stance of his could encourage others to stand as candidates for the party leadership. If his plan fails—and Labour MPs rally even more firmly behind Keir Starmer—his leadership could become even more consolidated.