A frustrated Phillipson admits Labour's shortcomingspublished at 09:27 BST 10 May

09:27 BST 10 May

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

The education secretary sounds frustrated this morning. That's not a surprise given the results of Thursday's elections - and the clear danger for the government.

I'm struck she is admitting that the government has had plenty of shortcomings and failings.

She also concedes Labour's majority is fragile - and it needs to tell a story and deliver faster.

It's not the first time we've heard that criticism of Keir Starmer, though.

Bridget Philipson thinks the prime minister will still be the prime minister at the next election.

But fewer and fewer Labour MPs agree.

Asked whether it's time for a new leader, Phillipson says "people are really hurting" but that Labour has achieved an "awful lot" over the past year.

Communications haven't been good enough, though, she says. "Have we told a strong enough story... no we haven't." Phillipson says "the PM knows this".

She says we are living in a "perilous moment" for the country with the rise of Reform, adding that Labour is the only party that can bring a "divided" country back together.

Up next, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is asked why she doesn't agree with Catherine West given how poorly the Labour party performed during Thursday's elections.

Phillipson says her party's had "a really good kicking," and there are "big and serious issues" to address but she says the message from the elections is not to spend time as a party arguing among themselves.

Instead, the education secretary says, the Labour government needs to "tell a better story, deliver faster" as people who voted for change don't feel the cabinet has delivered on that change.

Kuenssberg asks West about Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor.

As a reminder, some Labour MPs want Catherine West to call off her leadership challenge, in order to give Burnham the time to replace Keir Starmer - here's more on where Burnham fits in.

She says when an orderly timetable for Starmer to be replaced is provided by the chair of the Labour party "we will understand who are the runners and riders".

Kuenssberg pushes West on her threat to challenge Starmer's leadership - for which she'd need to gather support from 81 Labour MPs.

Can you get the numbers? Kuenssberg asks her.

"I'm a fair person," she says, adding that she will hear what Starmer says tomorrow. If still dissatisfied, she will put out a call for names, she says.

West says she is challenging Starmer "for working people", saying Labour is the only party that can take on Reform UK - who won big in Thursday's elections.

She says a leadership election will "allow us to make the case to the country as well as our colleagues that we can go forward".

Labour MP Catherine West is now in the hot seat, she begins by saying she wants Starmer's cabinet to "reflect on the result from Thursday, where the voters sent us a very strong message that we're not good enough".

On Saturday, she called for cabinet ministers to challenge Keir Starmer's leadership, or threatened to do it herself.

West compares the situation in the Labour party to that of a school that failed its inspection. The headteacher would be told to leave, she says.

"We have a problem, we have to move quickly to fix it," she says. "Because otherwise it will lead to uncertainty... we need to install a new leader who can take us towards beating Reform in the general election to come, and give us a second term."

On the panel, Sharon Graham, the General secretary of Unite the Union, says Labour has not delivered for workers and communities.

She says the way people have seen it is that Labour has abandoned the working class and the working class has now abandoned Labour in return.

She says Labour are now in a position where they could go extinct if they do not take a new direction.

Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg has just started with a snappy exchange between Catherine West and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

Kuenssberg asks West if she has a message for the education secretary, she replies: "There's nothing stopping Bridget from standing.

"We need some senior women to step forward for what will be a difficult two and a half years."

Phillipson responds: "I love you dearly, but I just disagree on this one."

Cue the music, it's almost time for this week's episode of Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

In the hot seat this week are:

• Catherine West - the Labour MP has called for cabinet ministers to challenge Keir Starmer's leadership by Monday, or she will
• Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson
• Shadow housing secretary James Cleverly, for the Conservatives
• Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice
• Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iowerth

Follow along with the programme by clicking watch live at the top of this page, and we'll bring you the key lines.

Joshua Nevett
Political reporter

Catherine West issued an ultimatum to Keir Starmer's cabinet on Saturday: challenge the PM, or I will.

If a minister doesn't make a move, she will attempt to trigger a leadership contest herself, she said.

What’s the process for challenging a Labour leader?

A leadership election can only be triggered if the party's leader resigns, or if Labour MPs launch a challenge when there is no vacancy.

A challenger wishing to oust an incumbent leader must be supported by 20% of Labour MPs. Based on the current number of Labour MPs, 81 would need to support a challenger to formally start the process.

MPs must inform the party's general secretary in writing of their nomination if they have enough backers.

Challenger nominees would then need to seek support from 5% of constituency parties or backing from at least three affiliates of the Labour Party (at least two must be trade unions).

Nominees must be Labour MPs, which would rule out potential challengers like Andy Burnham - see our earlier post on where the Greater Manchester mayor fits into this.

If enough support is gathered to initiate a membership ballot, the incumbent leader is automatically on the ballot paper, and they do not need to seek nominations from MPs.

The timing of any contest would be decided by Labour’s ruling national executive committee (NEC).

Image source, PA Media

Tackling the cost of living and forging closer ties with the EU is expected to be at the heart of Keir Starmer's defence of his position as PM.

He tells the Mirror this morning he plans to lead Labour into the next election and serve a full term, continuing a "10-year project of renewal".

This includes a plan for a "stronger economy... that really works for everyone", he says, adding that he will be "full-throated" about the need for closer ties with Brussels.

Young people "should be free to work, study, travel in European countries," he says.

Yesterday, Starmer appointed Labour veterans Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman in advisory roles - in a move that one minister called "a joke".

But Starmer described the roles - focused on global finance and tackling misogyny - as "very future-looking".

On Monday, Starmer will give a major speech, including on the UK's relationship with the EU. Then on Wednesday, the government will set out planned legislation in the King's Speech.

Former council leader in St Helens, Anthony Burns, says he "knew [Thursday] was going to be a tough day" - but "not to that extent".

Reform UK claimed 34 of the 48 seats that make up the council - having previously held none. Labour had run the council since 1974.

Burns also lost his own seat to Reform in the Blackbrook ward.

"This was a local election [that was] unfortunately fought on the national picture," he tells BBC Breakfast.

Asked explicitly whether Starmer needs to go "soon", he says: "We need to see change, the people are saying that."

On Andy Burnham as a possible leadership rival, Burns says: "You can see that charisma he has with the people, and that's the bit that's missing [with Starmer]."

Burnham would first need to secure a Westminster seat before standing in a leadership contest.

"Hopefully we can get something moving pretty quickly in time to make a difference before next year," he says.

Image source, Getty Images

As Nick Eardley just reported, some Labour MPs want Catherine West to call off her leadership challenge, in order to give Andy Burnham the time to replace Keir Starmer.

But how does the Greater Manchester mayor fit into this?

A challenger wishing to oust Keir Starmer would have to be supported by at least 20% of Labour MPs (currently 81 people). And crucially, they would have to be an MP themselves.

This would rule out Burnham.

Earlier this year, he tried to become an MP, but was blocked by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

So to challenge the prime minister, he would need to stand in another by-election and re-enter the House of Commons.

Around 20 of Burnham's supporters so far have publicly called for Starmer to announce a timetable for his departure.

If he does so, the NEC - the theory goes - would no longer block Burnham from returning to Westminster because there would be no leadership challenge to a soon-departing Starmer.

Some Burnham supporters have been trying – so far unsuccessfully – to persuade Catherine West to abandon her plan and adopt theirs instead.

But as one veteran Labour figure told the BBC: "If you want anyone other than Andy you need this to happen sooner rather than later."

The prospect of a leadership challenge is now front and centrepublished at 07:33 BST 10 May

07:33 BST 10 May

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

Sunday won't be much of a day of rest for the Labour Party this week.

Catherine West's bombshell intervention last night on Radio 4 has put the prospect of a leadership challenge front and centre this morning.

Plenty of Labour MPs think her plan is madness and irresponsible. There are also those who back Andy Burnham who are hoping West calls her bid off - because they want their man back in Parliament before any leadership contest.

But there are also many Labour MPs who are deeply unhappy with the current situation.

Might they be tempted over the next 24 hours to back Catherine West in an effort to force the leadership question? Perhaps.

For those more established Labour figures weighing up their own challenge, could this force them to act? There's no sign of that just yet.

But things could change if it looks like West will get the backing of 81 MPs - enough to force a leadership vote.

• The SNP won a fifth consecutive Scottish Parliament election, with 58 seats - down six from last time. But they failed to achieve the 65 needed for a majority
• Labour lost four seats, down to 17. Reform also won 17, from zero
• The Scottish Greens and Lib Dems both gained six, ending with 15 and 10 respectively
• The Conservatives lost 19, leaving them with 12 seats

• In the Welsh Parliament, Plaid Cymru are the biggest party with 43 seats, but came short of the 49 needed for a majority
• Reform UK won 34 - they had none in the 2021 election. The Green Party have two seats and the Lib Dems one
• Labour, who had been in power in the Senedd for 27 years, were 35 seats down, with just nine seats
• The Conservatives lost 22 seats, leaving them with seven

• In English local elections, Reform gained 1,451 councillors
• Labour lost 1,496, compared to the previous set of elections
• The Lib Dems picked up 155 new councillors, while the Conservatives lost 563
• The Greens gained 441 councillors

You can pick through all the results in Scotland, Wales, and England via the banner at the top of the page

Image source, Getty Images

A Labour leadership election is triggered if the leader resigns or if 20% of MPs put forward another candidate.

That means 81 Labour MPs would have to nominate a challenger to Keir Starmer’s leadership.

As we have just reported, Catherine West says she has 10 MPs willing to back her - but she is "confident" enough MPs will come forward if needed.

Some MPs have told us she has no chance of getting the MPs she would need.

One minister - who is critical of Starmer - told the BBC West was "mad" while a former frontbencher declared her move as "bonkers".

But others - including an ally of the prime minister - think she might cross the threshold

"The frustration on the backbenches runs far wider than the voices we've heard from publicly," one MP says.

Challenge Starmer by Monday, or I will - that's the ultimatum Labour MP Catherine West issued to Keir Starmer's cabinet yesterday.

If a minister doesn't make a move, she will attempt to trigger a leadership contest herself, she said yesterday.

In an exclusive interview with the BBC, she said her preferred option was for the cabinet to put forward their "best communicator" to replace Starmer, avoiding a leadership election.

If they don't do that by Monday, she will seek the support of 81 Labour MPs - the number needed to challenge Starmer as leader.

West, a former junior Foreign Office minister, said she already had 10 MPs prepared to back her, but she was "confident" enough people would come forward to trigger a contest.

This morning, West is speaking to the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg from 09:00 BST, alongside Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, shadow housing secretary James Cleverly, Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice and Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iowerth.

You'll be able to watch live on this page - and our writers will being you all the key lines and analysis.