Can Starmer survive as PM? Seven scenarios for what might happen next

"Sir Keir Starmer's premiership has never looked more vulnerable as growing numbers of his own MPs call on him to stand down after a disastrous set of election results. It is a fast moving and volatile situation, but here are some scenarios on how things might play out in the coming days and weeks."

"The Labour backbencher Catherine West surprised everyone on Saturday by announcing that she was prepared to challenge Sir Keir for the party leadership. She's never had a high profile in the party. But Sir Keir gave her a junior ministerial job in the Foreign Office after Labour's election win in 2024. He sacked her when he reshuffled his government last year."

"She has no ambitions to take on the top job herself, but said she had grown frustrated with the apparent reluctance of cabinet members who have been quietly lining up their own bids to launch after Thursday's battering at the polls. She would need to get the backing of 20% of the Parliamentary party - 81 MPs - to kick off a leadership contest."

"If West gets 60 or 70 MPs backing a leadership contest it might be enough to flush out a challenge from the likes of Streeting or Rayner - convincing them there is appetite among the Parliamentary Labour Party for a change. It could also put Sir Keir on notice that the party is ready to oust him when they or other leading figures do finally make a move."

Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership is described as increasingly vulnerable after disastrous election results, with more Labour MPs calling for him to step down. Labour backbencher Catherine West announced she is prepared to challenge Starmer for party leadership. She has not previously had a high profile, but received a junior Foreign Office role after Labour’s 2024 election win and was later sacked during a government reshuffle. West said she became frustrated by cabinet members’ reluctance to launch leadership bids. A leadership contest would require backing from 20% of the Parliamentary party, meaning 81 MPs. More than 30 MPs have called for Starmer to go, but not all are expected to support West. If West gains 60 or 70 MPs, it could encourage other figures such as Wes Streeting or Angela Rayner to decide whether to challenge, and could signal that the party is ready to remove Starmer.

Read at www.bbc.com