Catherine West says Keir Starmer should go but pulls back from leadership challenge

Labour MP Catherine West has pulled back from launching a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer but has called on him to set out a timetable for his departure in September. Over the weekend, the north London MP had threatened to kick-start a contest but said she would first listen to the prime minister's speech responding to Labour's poor election results. In the speech, the PM said he would prove the "doubters wrong" and would not be stepping down. He added that his government had made mistakes but insisted it had "got the big political choices right". So far around 45 Labour MPs have publicly urged Sir Keir either to step down immediately or set out a timetable for his departure. West said the prime minister's speech had "renewed energy and ideas" but "was too little too late". In a statement she said: "The results last Thursday show that the prime minister has failed to inspire hope. "What is best for the party and country now is for an orderly transition. "I am hereby giving notice to No 10 that I am collecting names of Labour MPs to call on the prime minister to set a timetable for the election of a new leader in September. "We need our best top team in place to fight