Ripper loses key MPs

Opposition Leader Eric Ripper could face a challenge for his job as early as next week after seven key Labor MPs withdrew their support for the embattled leader at a tense meeting yesterday.

The members of the party's powerful Left faction told Mr Ripper they could no longer support him in the face of bad polling and unrest about his leadership.

Roger Cook, who is Mr Ripper's deputy, Sue Ellery, Ken Travers, John Hyde, Lisa Baker, Janine Freeman and Chris Tallentire are aligned to the union United Voice.

The Weekend West understands senior members of the group met Mr Ripper at State Parliament yesterday morning following a week of speculation about the leader's hold on his job.

The shift in support means a challenger to Mr Ripper could secure the 19 votes needed out of the 37 in caucus.

Rockingham MP Mark McGowan and Willagee MP Peter Tinley have been touted as possible successors.

Last night, the parliamentary leader of Labor's nine-member Right faction, Michelle Roberts, said Mr Ripper still had the faction's backing.

But it is believed Ben Wyatt, who backed out of a challenge against Mr Ripper last year, Paul Papalia, Rita Saffioti, John Quigley, Andrew Waddell and Peter Watson would back Mr McGowan in a challenge.

This week, Mr Watson said Mr Ripper was "unsellable" to the public and with an election due in March next year it was time to give someone else in the party a chance to improve Labor's stocks.

Yesterday's developments mean the party's powerbrokers are doing the numbers to see if Mr Ripper could survive a challenge.

The future of Mr Ripper's leadership could come down to two or three MPs, including Upper House members Adele Farina and Linda Savage.

If they, the seven Left MPs and Mr McGowan's supporters combine, Mr McGowan would have 16 votes and would likely win backing from unaligned MPs Tom Stephens, Martin Whitely and Tony Buti. This would give him the 19 votes needed.