<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An Australian-born backbench UK Labour MP has thrown a political hand grenade into the debate over the future of the country's besieged prime minister.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Following crushing local election defeats last week, Keir Starmer is facing a renewed threat to his leadership.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As the final results came in Saturday, Labour suffered a net loss of more than 1100 local council seats across England, and lost control of several local authorities.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Anti-immigration party Reform UK gained more than 1300 seats across England and made significant gains in legislative elections in Wales and Scotland.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-budget-2026-negative-gearing-changes-what-is-it-everything-you-need-to-know/c37e11e6-9cdb-4420-b3fc-fcf908df8d67" target="_blank" title="Major crisis facing Liberals after 'good old-fashioned flogging' at Farrer by-election by One Nation"><strong><span>Major crisis facing Liberals after 'good old-fashioned flogging' at Farrer by-election by One Nation</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Starmer insisted he would not quit 10 Downing Street, but just hours later, former minister Catherine West, who was born in Victoria, announced she wanted a cabinet minister to challenge Starmer by Monday, or she would put herself forward in a leadership tilt.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For this to happen, 20 per cent of Labour MPs – 81 people – would have to back her.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/australian-born-mp-catherine-west-threatening-challenge-to-keir-starmer/0c2d8494-5886-45d9-b44b-3227d8d1ec02" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>West told the BBC she currently had 10 MPs behind her, but expected support to grow.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My preferred option is for the cabinet to do a reshuffle within itself, where there's plenty of talent, and for Keir to be given a different role, which he might enjoy, perhaps an international role," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Then for others to come to the fore who can communicate the message, who are very able, so we can have minimum fuss."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-budget-2026-major-reforms-make-for-another-banana-republic-moment/92b24eee-94c3-446f-b595-75541e9f15c7" rel="" target="_blank" title="Expect federal budget to be as significant as 'banana republic' warning"><strong><span>Expect federal budget to be as significant as 'banana republic' warning</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The goal of West is not to become UK prime minister but to become a political 'stalking horse' and affect change at the top of the country's Labour Party.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Her threat may force a leadership shot by Health Minister Wes Streeting and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, who are regarded as the strongest challengers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>West moved to the UK in 1998 before being elected a Labour MP or Hornsey in north London in 2015 (unlike Australia dual citizens can become British MPs).</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She was a junior foreign office minister from 2024 to 2025 with responsibility for the Indo Pacific region.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 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