‘Obstinate’ PM has to set a clear timetable for going, says Labour MP Jonathan Brash

Labour MP Jonathan Brash, who was one of the first to call for Sir Keir Starmer to resign, has told GB News that the Prime Minister must set out a “clear timetable” for his departure.

GB News’ exclusive comes as the Prime Minister fights for his survival. In a dramatic day, he was hit by a series of blows including the resignation of four ministers.

In an in-depth interview with Gloria De Piero, Brash said: “My view hasn’t changed. I think it’s the right thing now for the Prime Minister to set a clear timetable for his departure from the job.

“I think that speaks to the issue at hand that this is not some fringe effort on behalf of a small number of MPs. This is right across the party and representing views right across the party. Now they believe we need a change, and the reality is we’re starting to see ministers resigning.

“Now, a prime minister can only govern if he has his team behind him. And I think the question mark now is how long he will be able to command the confidence of ministers, of the PLP? We have the King’s Speech coming tomorrow. He has to be able to get his legislation through.

“Look, I would say to him, I understand, I really do. Because I actually think, I know many of your viewers will disagree with this, a lot of people across the country might think he’s a man of integrity, think he actually does believe in public service. I think he’s got to ask himself the question now, who is this for?

“Is it for your party in the country, or is it for you? I wonder whether this obstinance is trying to continue when it’s clear that the party and others are moving against him. I’m not sure it’s in the interests of the wider public anymore, and I think he should reflect very carefully on that.”

Asked how long he thought Starmer had left, Brash said: “Well, I think it’s important, because I don’t believe in rushed judgements. I don’t believe in short term chaos. I do think there needs to be a proper discussion, debate within the party. I think the party members must be involved in that process.

“I also think that people who perhaps are outside the PLP right now should be given the opportunity to come back into the PLP. I’ll be very clear, I’ve said it – I thought it was a mistake to block Andy Burnham the first time round.

“We need to be able to choose from all the talents within the party. People have talked about the run up to party conference, September being the time at which you might choose a new leader. That seems like a very sensible timetable for me.”

He added: “This Labour government cannot get re elected without red wall constituencies like Hartlepool. It cannot deliver beyond 2029 without those areas. Party members can be pragmatic. We have to understand that this is about the soul of the country…

“They need to be pragmatic, and they need to have a very honest and open conversation about what this country needs. And if you want to talk about immigration, I’ll make the case every day that this government needs to continue Shabana’s bold reforms, which are already working by the way, we see it in the numbers, to ensure that we have a sensible immigration system that benefits communities like mine.”

He said Cabinet minister must make a choice: “Look, it’s not for me to give colleagues advice, especially from the lowly back benches, I would just simply say, we know where we are. There’s nobody who’s pretending that the Prime Minister is leading this government into the next general election.

“It’s not a case of if. It is a case of when. Now is the moment clearly to ensure that timetable is set out. And the ball is very much in their court.”

On his preferred candidate for leader, he said: “I think it depends entirely about what the timetable is. If we get bounced into a short campaign, then I would have my views about who the best person for the job is. If there’s a longer candidate with a longer timetable with more candidates involved, and obviously that would affect my view.

“For me, it’s not about personalities, and never has been. It is about what you are prepared to do. And I’ll be looking at the people who say, as I said before, if you’re prepared to reform council tax, if you’re prepared to actually look at economic growth in the regions, if you’re prepared to look at nationalising water to lower those bills for my constituents, then that’s the conversation I want to be having with you, because that helps my constituents.

“Ultimately, I’m only interested in the people that can make the lives of Hartlepool people better. First and foremost, always.”

On whether voters may be opposed to a leadership contest whilst they are struggling with the cost of living, Brash said: “I would counteract that by saying, ‘Does the country want more of this?’ And I think the answer to that is no.

“I think what the country wants is a government is delivering for them, a government is on their side, and a government is actually taking the big, bold actions that are required in order to fix the lives that they’re facing.

“I think part of the issue here we have is that this has not been in the making of the last 20 months. This has been going on probably since the 2008 crash. Quite frankly, living standards have been eroded. Public services have been destroyed. People’s lives have got measurably worse.

“This government has done a lot in 20 months to start the process of fixing it. I just don’t think we’re being bold enough, and I don’t think we’re going further enough. So I see this process as an opportunity to make my constituents lives better more quickly.”