A Labour MP has become the first to call on Sir Keir Starmer to resign over what he called the vetting “psychodrama” gripping parliament.
Hartlepool’s Jonathan Brash told GB News he does not believe “anyone reasonably expects the prime minister to lead the party into the next election”.
When asked if Sir Keir should resign, he replied: “Yeah,” adding he was “fed up to the back teeth of this psychodrama in Westminster”.
He is the first Labour MP to break ranks and call for the prime minister’s resignation outright, although Sir Keir has faced mounting disquiet over the last few days.
Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper and energy secretary Ed Miliband have also reportedly distanced themselves from the prime minister over revelations Downing Street explored the possibility of an ambassador job for his ex-communications chief Lord Matthew Doyle.
Sir Keir’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, widely regarded as a protégé of Lord Mandelson, has been summoned to appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee of MPs amid the Lord Mandelson vetting scandal, it’s understood.
Farage says Starmer will be ‘gone before the end of May’ as he predicts Labour decimation in local electionsReform UK leader Nigel Farage has said Sir Keir Starmer’s credibility is “shot to pieces” and he will be “gone by the end of May” following the controversy over the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson.
Asked by a reporter if he believed Sir Keir staying in office would help Reform UK, Mr Farage said: “Starmer’s absolutely fatal electoral flaw is that nobody takes him as sincere.
“So, cynically, it might suit us if he stays till the next election.
“Realistically, if I’m even half right about the predictions I’ve made from this lectern today, they will get rid of him.
“He will be gone before the end of May.”
He added: “I think his credibility is shot to pieces.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaking at Dodworth Central Social club in Barnsley (PA)Nicole Wootton-Cane22 April 2026 19:00
Conservatives accuse Starmer of trying to avoid PMQs by proroguing parliament earlyConservative MPs have called out what they suggested is a deliberate attempt by the prime minister to avoid PMQs next week by proroguing parliament early.
Sir Keir Starmer has reportedly said he wants the last sitting day of this parliamentary session to fall on Tuesday, meaning MPs would then not return to parliament until Wednesday 13 May.
It would mean the prime minister would avoid next week’s PMQs, and not face MPs again in the Commons until May.
In a post on X, Richard Holden, shadow transport secretary, wrote: “This is a complete & utter disgrace from a Prime Minister running and hiding from @Conservatives leader @KemiBadenoch
“It means Parliament finishes business on Tuesday, with the formal closing ceremony on Wednesday. So no #PMQs
“Starmer’s a coward as well as a liar”.
Nicole Wootton-Cane22 April 2026 18:30
Starmer sacked Olly Robbins before he could defend himself over Mandelson scandal, allies sayAsked on Monday in the Commons whether he had sought an explanation from Sir Olly by veteran Tory MP Sir Julian Lewis, Sir Keir told the Commons: “I did ask him, and I did not accept his explanation. That is why I sacked him.”
But friends of the former permanent secretary have hit back, telling The Independent “no question was asked”.
The Independent’s political editor David Maddox has this exclusive:
Nicole Wootton-Cane22 April 2026 18:22
Former Labour general secretary defects to GreensFormer Labour general secretary Jennie Formby has defected to Greens.
Ms Formby, an ally of Jeremy Corbyn who managed the Labour party from 2018 to 2020, told The Guardian she has signed up as a Green member.
She quit her post as general secretary after Sir Keir Starmer became Labour leader.
Ms Formby told the newspaper: “Zack and the Greens are not scared to talk about economic justice and tax increases. I am increasingly concerned by seeing the extent to which Labour is in hock to corporate sponsors.
“The Greens also have some important policies on workers’ rights, which is important to me – all these things made me want to join the Green party and I want to do everything I can to support them.”
Jennie Formby (PA)Nicole Wootton-Cane22 April 2026 18:11
Badenoch accuses PM of misleading MPs over Robbins’ evidenceConservative party leader Kemi Badenoch has accused the prime minister of giving a misleading account to MPs of Sir Olly Robbins’ evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee.
In a post on X she wrote: “Today at PMQs, Keir Starmer selectively quoted Olly Robbins’ evidence at the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
“Starmer said on Mandelson’s vetting: ‘no pressure existed whatsoever in relation to this case’. But Robbins’ own written evidence to the Committee talks of an ‘atmosphere of pressure’ from No10.
“On Monday, Robbins told the Committee: ‘Throughout January, honestly, my office and the Foreign Secretary’s office were under constant pressure. There was an atmosphere of constant chasing’.
“Starmer was therefore wrong to say that ‘no pressure existed whatsoever’. He must correct the record immediately.”
Nicole Wootton-Cane22 April 2026 18:00
Cabinet ministers question Sir Olly Robbins’ sacking, reports sayMinisters within Sir Keir Starmer’s own government are questioning the prime minister’s decision to sack Sir Olly Robbins over the Mandelson scandal, it has been reported.
Sources told The Guardian that several ministers spoke about the sacking during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
The newspaper reported David Lammy warned against creating a “them and us” mentality between ministers and officials.
Home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, is understood to have questioned Sir Keir’s decision and judgement during the meeting.
Nicole Wootton-Cane22 April 2026 17:45
Farage accuses Starmer of ‘riding roughshod over normal procedure’ over MandelsonNigel Farage has accused Sir Keir Starmer of “riding roughshod over normal procedure” in relation to the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson.
Speaking at a Reform UK rally in Barnsley, he described the prime minister as a man who has previously “prided himself on being professional, on being thorough and good at everything he does”.
“The man of process has ridden roughshod over normal procedure,” he continued.
“The very thought that Mandelson was even chosen in the first place is quite extraordinary, but the fact that he was actually put into a very senior position and open to confidential documents.
“Bear in mind that we share with the Americans intelligence to the highest level, including nuclear capability.
“The thought that the prime minister wanted this guy to be there on Pennsylvania Avenue without any vetting process having been done is astonishing.”
Mr Farage continued: “My feeling is he will cling on.
“He’ll sack everybody around him, even if he’s the last man standing. He’ll never, ever take responsibility himself for anything that he’s done.”
Nicole Wootton-Cane22 April 2026 17:30
Officials told Starmer to wait for vetting result before appointing Mandelson, new note suggestsOfficials told Sir Keir Starmer to wait for the outcome of Lord Peter Mandelson’s vetting before announcing his appointment to Washington, new reports suggest.
Politico reports that the prime minister was sent a note by his principal private secretary and his senior foreign policy official in November 2024 advising him to consider waiting until after Lord Mandelson had been given security clearances before announcing his appointment.
It is not clear whether Sir Keir ever read or responded to the note, as no response is recorded.
In response, No 10 said: “He covered this on Monday and again today when he spoke about Wormald reviewing.”
The PM was asked about a similar memo by former cabinet secretary Simon Case on Monday.He said he asked Case’s successor Chris Wormald to look into whether the correct processes had been followed in appointing Lord Mandelson.
Sir Keir told parliament on Wednesday: “I asked him to review the appointment process, including the vetting. He confirmed—his words—’appropriate processes were followed’.”
Nicole Wootton-Cane22 April 2026 17:14
Labour on course for worst election result in London in nearly 50 yearsThe Labour Party is on course for its worst result in London in more than four decades at the upcoming local elections, a damning new poll has shown.
The Greens and Reform are both set to eat into Labour’s London vote, putting Sir Keir Starmer’s party on course for significant losses in the capital.
An MRP poll of the 32 London boroughs, conducted by YouGov for Sky News and Politico, shows Labour is on course to win the highest vote share in 15 councils – six fewer than in 2022.
The last time Labour won fewer than 15 London councils was in 1982, 44 years ago, when they won just 12.
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke has this report:
Nicole Wootton-Cane22 April 2026 17:00
In pictures: Starmer and Badenoch in heated debate at PMQs
(House of Commons)
(House of Commons)Nicole Wootton-Cane22 April 2026 16:45
