Rachael Maskell has said the prime minister “cannot continue” after Labour’s disastrous election results in England, Scotland and Wales.
But the York Central MP said it would be “wrong to launch into an immediate leadership challenge, before understanding the qualities needed to lead our party”.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer vowed to prove his “doubters” wrong as he fought back against calls for him to quit during a speech on Monday morning (May 11).
The prime minister said his party would “be better and do better” as he took responsibility for Labour’s electoral mauling last week.
Describing the election results as “tough”, he told an audience in central London: “I get it, I feel it, and I take responsibility.
“But it’s not just about taking responsibility for the results. It’s about taking responsibility to explain how, as a political and electoral force, we will be better and do better in the months and years ahead.”
He added: “I know I have my doubters, and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will.”
Sir Keir also issued a warning to his party, saying Britain was “not just facing dangerous times, but dangerous opponents, very dangerous opponents”.
He said: “This hurts, not just because Labour has done badly, but because if we don’t get this right, our country will go down a very dark path.”
Before the speech, Ms Maskell, who has previously backed Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to become prime minister, said it is “time for a mature dialogue as to how the Labour Party moves forward”.
“Through the culture the prime minister has set, the judgements he has made and some policies he has pursued, he has failed to instil confidence in his leadership, instead causing people to seek solutions outside of Labour at this election,” the Labour MP said in a statement on Sunday night (May 10).
“While the prime minister cannot continue, it would be wrong to launch into an immediate leadership challenge, before understanding the qualities needed to lead our party.
“This cannot be about personal ambition, but the people best placed to bring our party and the country together.
“This requires a full discussion with the trade unions and Labour membership, as well as all parts of the Parliamentary Labour Party, to ensure that those most capable of taking our party forward with the support of the people of our country have the opportunity to do so, whether currently in parliament or not, and how the membership is given real choice as to who leads them in this next chapter of Labour’s story.
“The Labour Party is far too precious to allow it to be destroyed, as working people need a voice in Westminster which will serve their interests, take up their cause and deliver on their aspirations.
“It is why the Labour Party was created by the trade unions and it is why the Labour Party must urgently move forward with new leadership, a new vision and priorities, and a new culture which includes all communities in this next part of our nation’s story.”
Ms Maskell also called for a “review of the relationship between government and parliament”.
“In recent times, governments have not respected the role of parliament to provide the scrutiny necessary to prevent poor legislation,” she said.
“Through better pre-legislative scrutiny and collaborative processes, parliament should have a greater role in legislation and policy, providing for more stable government and better outcomes.
“A timetable must now be set for a process to ensure that we restore the purpose, policies and promise of our great labour movement under new leadership to unite the interests of all communities once again.”
Meanwhile, the mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, said the “country is a mess” after admitting the local elections had been a “difficult night for Labour”.
But Mr Skaith said: “I do not think it is the right thing to do to default to the chopping and changing of governments that we saw four years ago.
“It’s unstable. But, communities in York and North Yorkshire and across the country need, now more than ever, to clearly see and feel that this is a government that is on their side and is taking steps to prove that.”
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