The former Mayor of Middlesborough has declared that Sir Keir Starmer's Cabinet reshuffle "will not work", branding it a "desperate" move.
Speaking to GB News, Andy Preston claimed the reshuffle has come from a "position of weakness" by the Prime Minister following Angela Rayner's resignation.
The Prime Minister was forced into a major cabinet reshuffle following the announcement of Angela Rayner's resignation as Deputy Prime Minister.
David Lammy has been appointed as Ms Rayner's replacement as well as Justice Secretary, with Yvette Cooper moved to Foreign Secretary and Shabana Mahmood taking her position as Home Secretary.
Andy Preston has declared Keir Starmer's latest Cabinet reshuffle 'will not work'
|GB NEWS / PA
Delivering his verdict on the latest Labour Cabinet, Mr Preston told GB News: "It's not going to work. Is it unraveling? I don't think that's fair and reasonable after 48 hours or less.
"But it's not going to work, it's come from a position of desperation."
Taking particular aim at the new Deputy Prime Minister, he added: "David Lammy obviously has moved, I think David Lammy is now Deputy Prime Minister for a while, until they have a proper election there, or choosing the right person for that job.
"And he's a bit of a laughing stock. I quite like his manner, but he's a bit of a laughing stock."
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Keir Starmer reshuffled his Cabinet on Friday following the resignation of Angela Rayner
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Suggesting there is more popularity with the new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, the ex-Mayor explained: "I think with Shabana Mahmood the public seem to quite like, and there's something that I like.
"But if we analyse her record, she was in charge of prisons when we released dozens and dozens and dozens of really dangerous criminals, so I think this is going to unravel. I don't think it's unraveled yet, but it's come from a position of weakness and it's not going to work."
Questioned by host Dawn Neesom on whether Sir Keir "used the opportunity" of Ms Rayner's departure to "get rid of some dead wood", Mr Preston declared that the "whole Government isn't functioning".
He told GB News: "I would say the whole Government's not functioning. I think we are we're not in crisis yet, but we're heading to a crisis.
Mr Preston told GB News that Keir Starmer is 'desperately clinging on to power'
|GB NEWS
"I keep banging on about this, and I think some other people are, too. Is that we're absolutely heading straight to bankruptcy."
Warning of Britain's economic future under Labour, Mr Preston concluded: "There are going to have to be either very big tax rises or massive, painful Government cuts or a bit of both. And this Government isn't able to do it because its backbenchers will not allow them to make the cuts.
"So we're heading for crisis, and I think Starmer is just desperately trying to cling onto power. People say this Government will last its course increasingly, I do not believe that's possible.
"I think the backbench rebellions will grow and grow and will be left with a Government that simply just can't govern."