UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer may soon confront a leadership challenge following significant setbacks for his Labour Party in the recent local elections held on Thursday.
Labour MP Catherine West indicated to the BBC that she plans to initiate a leadership contest if no member of the Cabinet steps forward by Monday to challenge Starmer.
West issued a clear warning to the Cabinet, saying, “I’m putting people on notice—if there’s no sign of leadership contenders by Monday morning, I will call upon every member of the Parliamentary Labour Party to back me in this endeavor, as it’s crucial we start this process.”
During a news conference at Downing Street in London on March 5, 2026, Prime Minister Keir Starmer provided an update on the situation in the Middle East. (Tolga Akmen/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
West further suggested that her ideal scenario would involve a Cabinet reshuffle, emphasizing the depth of talent within the group. She proposed that Starmer might thrive in an international role, allowing other capable individuals to step forward and effectively convey the party’s message with minimal disruption.
“But my preferred option is for the Cabinet to do a reshuffle within itself, where there’s plenty of talent and for Keir to be given a different role, which he might enjoy, perhaps an international role, and then for others to come to the fore, who can communicate the message, who are very able, so we can have minimum fuss,” she continued.
West, a former junior Foreign Office minister, would need support from 20% of Labour MPs — or 81 members — to trigger a contest.
She said about 10 MPs are backing her effort and expressed confidence more would join, according to the report.
(left to right) Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a meeting with representatives from criminal justice agencies at number 10 Downing Street, Westminster, following a terror attack in Golders Green on Wednesday morning in which two Jewish men were stabbed. Picture date: Thursday April 30, 2026. (Dan Kitwood/PA Images via Getty Images)
Labour suffered roughly 1,400 losses across the U.K. in this week’s elections, with Reform UK making significant gains, according to GB News.
Starmer accepted responsibility for the losses but resisted calls to resign, saying he was “not going to walk away and plunge the country into chaos.”
Still, he has not explicitly ruled out a managed exit and is expected to address the situation on Monday.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces growing pressure within his Labour Party following losses in local elections. (Kin Cheung/AFP)
As of late Friday, 22 Labour MPs had publicly called for the prime minister to step down or set a timeline for his exit, the BBC reported.
West did not name a preferred replacement.
“I don’t have a candidate,” she said. “That’s part of the problem.”
“But I think there are several people who would like to do it, who have been planning for months, but I’m very surprised that none of them has popped up today to say ‘I will do it’,” she added.
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