Hartlepool Labour MP urges party to ‘get a grip’ on GB News

The row over what the Prime Minister knew and when about Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US is fuelling speculation about the Prime Minister’s future.

Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash has said that he doesn’t think “anyone reasonable expects the Prime Minister to lead the party into the next election”.

Speaking to GB News after Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (April 22), Mr Brash said: “Ultimately, we are in a situation where I don’t think anyone reasonable expects the Prime Minister to lead the party into the next election and I think we have to refocus this Government on the priorities of the British people.

“We have got fantastic Labour councillors, canvassers, activists up and down the country working hard and delivering for their constituencies like mine in Hartlepool, facing local elections in the shadow of this absolute mess.

“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, as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, it’s not a case of if, it’s when, and I just think we need to get a handle on this.”

The fallout from the row over Lord Mandelson’s appointment has intensified scrutiny of Sir Keir’s leadership, with some MPs questioning his judgment and future prospects.

Sir Keir is facing calls to resign for misleading MPs about the appointment process, as news that Lord Mandelson was cleared for the Washington posting against the recommendation of security officials appeared to contradict his previous statements that due process was followed.

But the defiant Prime Minister told MPs: “Last week, they were all saying that it must have been shared with me. Sir Olly was very clear yesterday, it was not. I believe not sharing it was a serious error of judgment.

“That information should have been shared with me and other ministers, and if it had have been, Mandelson would not have been committed to post.”

Polly Billington, vice-chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party, declined to express confidence in Sir Keir’s judgment, saying only that Labour had a “mandate from the British people” to deliver change.

Pat McFadden, Work and Pensions Secretary, said that Labour MPs should back Sir Keir.

Read more:

He said: “He’s been in office less than two years.

“He led the Labour Party to a very big election victory just under two years ago, and I think we’ve had far too many changes to Prime Minister in the UK in the last decade.

“It hasn’t done the country much good.”