Angela Rayner launched a devastating attack on Sir Keir Starmer’s Government saying things have to change “now”.
The former Deputy Prime Minister demanded a series of reforms as Sir Keir was battling for survival.
Setting an ultimatum to Sir Keir, she said: “The Prime Minister must now meet the moment and set out the change our country needs.
“Change our economic agenda to prioritise making people better off, change how we run our party so that all voices are listened to, and change how we do politics.”
Demanding a shift to the Left by the Government, she added: “Labour exists to make working people better off.
That is not happening fast enough, and it needs to change now.
“This may be our last chance.”
However, she stopped short of launching a leadership bid against the PM.
But he still faced the threat of a “stalking horse” challenge by London MP Catherine West.
Speculation was also rife that Health Secretary Wes Streeting was ready to launch a leadership bid.
Allies of Mr Streeting, MP for Ilford North, denied he had told Sir Keir that he was preparing his case to take over in No10.
Angela Rayner slammed Sir Keir Starmer’s Government after Labour’s May 7 election disaster for failing to quickly deliver change (PA Wire)
After Labour’s disastrous May 7 elections, Ms Rayner tore into Sir Keir’s leadership, saying: “Our party has suffered a historic defeat.
“In London, we lost young people who fear they will never afford a home.
“In my patch and across the north, we lost working people whose wages are too low and costs too high.”
In a clear jibe at Sir Keir, she added: “Countries including Spain and Canada have shown that economies can grow and people can thrive when governments stay true to labour and social democratic values and put people first.
“We need to learn from that.
“Decisions like cutting winter fuel allowance just weren’t what people expected from a Labour government.”
She slammed the Lord Mandelson scandal as showing a “toxic culture of cronyism”.
Sir Keir Starmer has been rocked by the Lord Mandelson scandal after he appointed the peer Britain’s ambassador to the US (PA Archive)
Ms Rayner demanded “immediate” action to cut costs for households, paid for by higher taxes by “those who benefit from the crisis” in the cost of living.
She hit out at Labour chiefs, including Sir Keir, for blocking Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from a Commons comeback.
Laying out a clear platform for Labour under her leadership, she called for more action to support renters, more devolution of power, a “fair pay agreement” in social care and greater planning reforms.
Her move came as the Labour Party was plunged into infighting over the attempt by Ms West to remove Sir Keir as Prime Minister.
In a live TV clash with Cabinet minister Bridget Phillipson, the Hornsey and Friern Barnet MP doubled down on her threatened move against Sir Keir.
But within hours key figures on the Left of the Labour Party spoke out against her trying to trigger a leadership contest on Monday if the Cabinet does not force Sir Keir to resign.
Richard Burgon MP posted on X: “Keir Starmer needs to go.
“But not through a Cabinet stitch-up or palace coup.”
Former shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, stressed: “Catherine West is reflecting the upset in her constituency where so many seats were lost.
“But I don’t think this is right approach.”
He also appeared to signal that many on the Left of the party want Mr Burnham to replace Sir Keir.
Earlier, Ms West had appeared on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show alongside Education Secretary Ms Phillipson.
At the start of the programme the two were seated side by side as Ms West repeated her appeal to the Cabinet to move against Sir Keir or she would launch a leadership challen.
London MP Catherine West and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show (NC)
Asked about her message to Ms Phillipson, Ms West said: “There’s nothing stopping Bridget from standing.
“Why are the all the men better than the women?”
She added; “We do need some senior women to step forward and to challenge for what is going to be a really difficult two and a half years between now and the general election.”
The Cabinet minister responded: “I love you dearly, Catherine, but I just disagree on this one.”
Ms Phillipson said Sir Keir would set out a “fresh direction” for the Government on Monday to rise to the challenges that it and the country are facing.
Sir Keir Starmer is battling to stay Prime Minister (PA Wire)
Ms West said she would listen to the speech before deciding whether to press ahead with her attempt to gain the support of 81 Labour MPs to trigger a leadership challenge against Sir Keir.
Her intervention has electrified the debate about Sir Keir’s future after Labour’s disastrous election results.
The party lost nearly 1,500 council seats in England at it was hammered by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the regions and by Zack Polanski’s Green Party in London.
The Greens won control of Lewisham, Hackney and Waltham Forest in a series of historic wins.
Brent, Enfield, Haringey Southwark and Lambeth fell to no overall control after decades of Labour rule.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski and Zoe Garbett celebrate their victory in London’s Hackney (Getty)
Reform took control of Havering council and gained 1,451 seats nationwide which Nigel Farage suggested put it on course to win the next general election.
The Greens won 441 seats, the Liberal Democrats 155, with the Tories also hit by dire results, losing 563.
Labour was also ousted from power in Wales and was hit by further losses in Scotland.
As he battled for survival, Sir Keir brought back former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in a special envoy on finance role, and Baroness Harriet Harman as a No10 adviser on women and girls.
Sir Keir Starmer has brought back Gordon Brown as a special envoy on finance (PA)
Sir Keir has insisted he will not quit as Prime Minister but he is coming under mounting pressure from Labour backbenchers to resign or set a timetable for his departure.
Brent West MP Barry Gardiner said Sir Keir should go to “save the country”.
Former loyalist Josh Simons, MP for Makerfield, called for the PM to quit, saying he had “lost the country”.
Dozens of backbench Labour MPs have voiced concerns over the Government’s direction after the election mauling.
But some MPs were rallying to support the PM and it was not yet clear if Ms West would succeed in getting the support of 81 MPs, 20% of the party in the Commons, to trigger a contest.
If she did, Ms Rayner and Mr Streeting are expected to run, with possible other candidates including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns.
Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham have all been touted as a potential replacement for Sir Keir (PA) (Local Library)
Former Labour leader Ed Miliband, the Net Zero Secretary, may come under pressure to stand as a unity candidate.
Mr Burnham is seen by some Labour MPs as the strongest contender but he was blocked by Labour chiefs, including Sir Keir, in his attempt to return to Parliament at the Gorton and Denton by-election.