Phillipson: challenge to Starmer would be wrong despite election kicking'

"Labour MPs would be wrong to remove Keir Starmer, even though voters have given the party a real kicking at the ballot box and people feel bitterly let down, the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has said. Phillipson said Labour had been too gloomy and had made a mistake in trying to withdraw the winter fuel allowance, after the party lost control of about 40 councils and 1,500 seats at the local elections on Thursday. However, she said a leadership challenge from the Labour backbencher Catherine West would be completely wrong."

"West, a former minister, said she would begin collecting the 80 necessary names for a challenge on Monday. She is not widely considered a viable candidate but if she triggers a contest then other contenders such as Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner or Ed Miliband could come forward. A contest in the coming weeks would rule out a return for Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, who is not in parliament."

"About 40 Labour MPs have said they think Starmer should quit or name a date to go. The latest to add his support to West was Josh Simons, the former Cabinet Office minister, who said Starmer must arrange an orderly transition to a new leader as he had lost the country and was incapable of rising to this moment. Writing in the Times, he said: To avoid leadership chaos, senior figures across factions should come together to decide the best way forward."

"Facing a threat to his premiership, Starmer gave an interview to the Observer saying he wanted to serve for 10 years. He has also attempted to refresh his government by bringing back the former prime minister Gordon Brown as an adviser on finance, and Harriet Harman as an adviser on women and girls. However, those in cabinet with leadership ambitions are weighing whether to attempt to oust him."

Bridget Phillipson said Labour MPs would be wrong to remove Keir Starmer even after voters delivered major losses in local elections. She said Labour had been too gloomy and made a mistake by trying to withdraw the winter fuel allowance. Phillipson rejected a leadership challenge from Catherine West, who planned to collect the required names to trigger a contest. A leadership contest could prevent Andy Burnham from returning to parliament. Labour MPs on the left were reported to be urging Ed Miliband to consider a bid. About 40 MPs said Starmer should quit or set a date. Josh Simons said Starmer must arrange an orderly transition because he had lost the country and could not rise to the moment. Starmer said he wanted to serve for 10 years and refreshed his government by bringing back Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman as advisers, while cabinet figures with leadership ambitions weighed whether to oust him.

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