‘People feel let down!’ Suspended Labour MP issues devastating verdict on Keir Starmer’s Government

Marcus Donaldson
Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:23:37 +0000

Suspended Labour MP Karl Turner has issued a devastating verdict on the Government under Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership.

The Kingston upon Hull MP, who now sits as an independent, despaired “people feel let down” by his former party after its landslide election in 2024.

Speaking to Camilla Tominey on GB News, Mr Turner reflected on mounting scandals engulfing Sir Keir, including his handling of the Peter Mandelson saga.

“Look, the truth is this: it's looking incredibly difficult for the Prime Minister,” he began.

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To that end, Mr Turner felt the trust the public had placed in Labour in 2024 had now eroded.

He said: “The reality is, we did win a mandate in July 2024. But this idea that it was an overwhelming, enthusiastic support for a Labour government led by Keir Starmer is for the birds.

"People wanted to keep the Tories out. That was the truth of what was happening.

“I was on the doors and there was saying to me, we'll give you a chance, but don't blow it. We'll give you the opportunity to govern, but don't let us down.

“I'm afraid to say people feel a little bit let down."

He despaired the political drama had meant: “We've not been able to speak about the policies that we have enacted that are actually about to start to make a difference to people's lives.

“The reality is, we've let the side down by the shenanigans that have unfolded in recent weeks and months.”

Mr Turner declared: “The Prime Minister should have taken responsibility.”

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Despite having the whip removed for his opposition to ending jury trials, the Kingston upon Hull MP insisted he was “not happy” about the state of affairs.

“I promise you, I'm a supporter of the leader of the Labour Party and the Prime Minister,” he stressed.

However, Mr Turner implored the PM to address the Lord Peter Mandelson vetting scandal head-on.

He said: “I'm going to be speaking in that debate on Tuesday, and I'm going to be saying, if he's got nothing to hide, and I don't think he has anything to hide, frankly, get on with it."

“Let's have the inquiry. Let's get it out of the way. Let's put it to bed and let's move on. Please. Let's move on to something better. Something more optimistic. Something new.

“Let's govern the country in the national interest. Not in the interests of a few people in a room, looking where the next job might come from."

However, Mr Turner was not drawn into calls for Sir Keir to step down.

Last week, Labour MP Jonathan Brash became the first to ask the PM to step aside live on GB News.