A Labour MP has told Sir Keir Starmer he has “lost the country” and demanded the Prime Minister set out a timeline for his departure.
Josh Simons, a former ally of the Prime Minister, warned this morning Labour is “marching towards extinction” in a dmaning indictment of his own party.
Labour suffered devastating losses in last week’s local elections, but the PM has said he would not “walk away and plunge the country into chaos”.
Tameside, Blackburn, Gateshead, and Sunderland, all in former Labour heartlands, including Angela Rayner’s backyard, surrendered control to Reform UK on Friday.
Over 30 Labour MPs have so far called for the PM to resign after Labour lost over 1,400 seats, and Josh Simons is another to add his name to the list.
The MP for Makerfield wrote in The Times: “This is bigger than any one person. All of us must be honest about these challenges, including those vying to replace the Prime Minister.
“We need radicalism, energy, and immense courage.
“Putting the people I represent and the country I love first, I do not believe the Prime Minister can rise to this moment.
“He has lost the country.
Josh Simons, a former ally of the PM, warned Labour is ‘marching towards extinction’
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“He should take control of the situation by overseeing an orderly transition to a new Prime Minister.
“What happens next is not a horse race, it’s about the future of our party and our country.”
His opinions were echoed by Clive Betts, the MP for Sheffield South East since 1992, who told the BBC: “What people said repeatedly was we might vote Labour, we’ve always voted Labour, we might vote Labour again, but not while Keir is the leader. It was repeated over and over again.
“That’s a real problem going forward. I don’t think rebooting and refreshing is going to make any difference.
Over 30 Labour MPs are calling for Sir Keir Starmer to resign
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“Unfortunately, the public, by and large, has just stopped listening to Keir. They have made their minds up.”
The PM could see a leadership challenge as soon as tomorrow if Catherine West, MP for Hornsey & Friern Barnet, follows through on her claim.
She has said she would attempt to trigger a leadership contest if a cabinet minister did not put themselves forward to challenge Sir Keir by Monday morning.
She said she was putting the cabinet “on notice,” and hoped its members would ”reorganise themselves”.
The education secretary, Bridgette Philipson, does not believe Ms West will get the support she needs.
She told Sky: “Catherine is a great colleague, and I’ve known her a long time. And I have real respect for Catherine.
“On this one, I do part company with her. I think she’s got this completely wrong.
“I don’t think a leadership contest and all of the problems that that would bring is the answer.”