Analysis: Has Starmer done enough to save his premiership?

"Catherine West, until the last 48 hours a relatively unknown former minister, told the BBC on Saturday night she was willing to try to force a leadership contest if no one else came forward. But having heard the prime minister's speech, she is standing down from running as a stalking horse candidate and trying to trigger a formal leadership contest right now. A sigh of relief, in the immediate moment at least, for Downing Street - and for the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, as she is now advocating that the prime minister sets out a timetable for his departure, rather than leaving immediately."

"Burnham needs time to get back to Westminster first. Those who have been organising the pro-Burnham push (or putsch) were concerned over the weekend that a swift contest would exclude him, as he is not an MP and needs to find a seat and win a by-election to be eligible. So they tried to persuade West to abandon her plan, and adopt their own instead and they see her statement today as a big win for them."

"In the room for the prime minister's speech, the jeopardy hung heavy. It was packed with loyalists willing Sir Keir on. It felt a little like a speech Iain Duncan Smith gave as Conservative leader in 2003, when, under intense pressure to stand down, he said "the quiet man is here to stay and he's turning up the volume". Those in the room punctuated his address with wild, perhaps over the top exuberant"

Catherine West said she would try to force a leadership contest if no one else came forward, but after hearing Keir Starmer’s speech she stood down as a stalking horse candidate. She is now pushing for a formal leadership contest to be triggered immediately, while also advocating that Starmer set out a timetable for leaving rather than departing at once. This shift provides relief for Downing Street and for Andy Burnham, who needs time to return to Westminster. Burnham’s supporters had feared a rapid contest would prevent him from becoming eligible because he is not an MP and would need to secure a seat and win a by-election. The prime minister’s speech was delivered to a room of loyalists, with heightened tension over whether a challenge would follow.

Read at www.bbc.com