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In brief
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will face a leadership challenge from former minister Catherine West.
- West was born in Australia and is a dual Australian and British citizen.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, grappling with a devastating defeat in local elections, now faces a fresh challenge to his leadership. An Australian-born former minister has announced her intention to vie for his position if no other candidates emerge.
The Labour Party, led by Starmer, suffered its most significant losses in municipal elections since 1995. This dismal performance has led to increasing calls from within the party for Starmer to step down.
In an effort to solidify his standing, Starmer appointed two prominent Labour figures as advisers: former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and ex-deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman.
Nevertheless, within hours, Catherine West, a Labour politician and former minister, expressed her intent to challenge Starmer. In an interview with BBC Radio, she urged the cabinet to devise a strategy to replace him by Monday or else she would enter the leadership race.
“If no prospective leaders come forward by tomorrow, then on Monday morning, I will declare my candidacy for the Leader of the Labour Party,” West stated.
West, who was born and raised in Australia, holds dual Australian and British citizenship.
As the extent of the defeat emerged, more than 20 politicians publicly and privately called on Starmer to set out a timetable for his departure. Asked whether he would stand down, he told British media that it was not the right thing to do.
“I’m not going to walk away from this,” he said earlier on Saturday.
Several Cabinet ministers said on Friday that they continued to support Starmer, who just under two years ago led Labour to a landslide national election victory, and an immediate challenge from the potential leadership rivals does not look straightforward.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham does not have the seat in parliament he needs to mount a challenge, and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has yet to fully resolve the tax issues that prompted her resignation from office last year.
Wes Streeting, currently health minister, is, like Starmer, tainted by the appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the United States. Streeting was close to Mandelson who was sacked over his ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Any candidate wishing to make a challenge would need to secure the public support of 20 per cent of Labour members of parliament. With Labour currently holding 403 seats, that equates to 81 backers.
West said she had 10 names behind her so far but her preferred option was that another candidate put themselves forward.
“I think there are several people who would like to do it who have been planning for months,” she said.
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