Labour MP challenges ministers to move against Starmer

A backbench Labour MP seeking to trigger a leadership challenge to Sir Keir Starmer has told the BBC the party needs to "move quickly" to replace him after suffering heavy election losses. North London MP Catherine West has urged cabinet ministers to challenge the prime minister, and has threatened to do so herself if they do not. It comes as more Labour MPs went public with calls for Sir Keir to go, including his former ally Josh Simons, who said the PM had "lost the country". Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson rallied behind Sir Keir, who is planning to make a major speech on Monday in a bid to shore up his premiership, in an interview on the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg programme. Addressing fellow guest West directly, Phillipson said: "I love you dearly Catherine, but we just disagree on this one". The senior minister acknowledged Labour had taken "a real kicking" from voters in Thursday's elections and that the party needed to "tell a better story". She said the PM would set out a "fresh direction for our country and for our party" in his speech on Monday. Asked if he would still be party leader at the time of the next general election, which will come in 2029 at the latest, Phi