"The voters sent us a very strong message that we are not good enough". That was Catherine West's justification for her sensational intervention in trying to force Keir Starmer out of Number Ten. West was speaking to Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday morning, with the BBC presenter making light of her chances. While it's true, not many Labour MPs have swung behind her move publicly - barely any in fact - many others have said nothing. This silent majority could spring a surprise on Monday, unless West backs out at the last minute. She needs 81 comrades to nominate her.
Towards the end of the interview, West was repeatedly asked about reports that allies of other potential leadership candidates had put pressure on her to stand down. Kuenssberg named Andy Burnham as one of those who had been exerting such pressure. West repeatedly refused to address the reports and remained steadfast.
Watch below (4 minute watch)
Andy Burnham is probably the only leadership hopeful with a justifiable gripe about West's intervention. As he is currently on the outside looking in, and cannot participate in a leadership election, he needs more time to enact his reported plan of re-entering the Commons. However, despite the dust now settling on the election results, no MP has resigned or even signalled their intention to stand aside for him. Time is not on Burnham's side, especially if West gains the signatures and forces a contest. A by-election can take up to five weeks to hold and by then it would be too late for Burnham to join the fray.
Other potential challengers have remained tight-lipped since election day, especially Angela Rayner. She has not posted any response at all to Labour's mauling. If she and Wes Streeting are serious about succeeding Starmer, they have the most to gain from West's intervention. The one drawback is that MPs can only nominate one candidate, so it could potentially be very difficult for either of them to gain enough signatures if West successfully collects 81 names herself.
Will either of them strike first in order to head off a potential threat from Burnham? The silence is deafening.
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