Labour MP calls for Keir Starmer to quit live on GB News amid Lord Mandelson scandal: ‘When, not if!’

Marcus Donaldson
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:15:47 +0000

Labour MP Jonathan Brash has called on Sir Keir Starmer to resign and said it was a case of “if, not when” that the Prime Minister will leave Downing Street.

The Hartlepool MP told GB News he does not think “anybody reasonably expects the Prime Minister to lead the party into the next election”.

Mr Brash was speaking after the Prime Minister received a grilling from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch over his handling of the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.

He told The People's Channel: “They just need to get a grip. I'm completely fed up about it, and I think it's got to the point now where I genuinely think that, you know, as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, it's not a case of if, it's when.

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“Ultimately, we're in a situation now where I don't think anyone reasonably expects the Prime Minister to lead the party into the next election."

Mr Brash despaired over a series of “own goals coming from the heart of this Government”, suggesting the scandals were distracting ministers from work elsewhere.

“I just think we need to get a handle on this because people out there are worried about their cost of living, they're worried about their NHS, they're worried about crime on their streets," he said.

“We're completely consumed by this scandal. And it's completely unacceptable. And as I'm sure you can tell, I'm quite angry about it.”

Responding to Mr Brash's remarks, the Prime Minister's spokesman said that Sir Keir was "one of four Labour leaders to win an election".

"He has a clear five-year mandate," the spokesman insisted.

"We are tackling the cost of living crisis, cutting waiting lists and restoring pride in local communities."

When asked if the Hartlepool MP was right to say the Prime Minister would not fight the next election, the spokesman simply said: "No."

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Mr Brash’s comments on GB News came just moments after Sir Keir faced MPs at Prime Minister's Questions.

Addressing the Commons, Mrs Badenoch called on him to "take responsibility and go".

"Mr Speaker, I cannot accuse the Prime Minister of deliberately misleading the House, but everyone can see what's happened here.

"This was not due process, and everyone knows the price of misleading the House.

"Will the Prime Minister, finally, take responsibility and go?"

Sir Keir responded by reiterating vetting concerns about Lord Mandelson had not been flagged with No10.

Taking aim at Mrs Badenoch, the Prime Minister said: "The Leader of the Opposition claimed on Friday that Mandelson could not have been cleared on security advice. She was wrong about that.

"She said ministers must have been told. She was wrong about that. She claimed there was deliberate dishonesty. She was wrong about that."

The Prime Minister added: "Mr Speaker, I was elected by the British people because they [the Tories] let the country down for 14 years. Whatever she says, whatever noise they make, nothing is going to distract me for delivering for our country."