Kemi Badenoch called on Keir Starmer to step down and invited rebel Labour MPs to talk to her party about trying to oust him today as the PM reeled from the latest Mandelson revelations.
The Conservative Party leader said Sir Keir was failing to govern as his administration becomes ever more wrapped in sleaze associated with the former US ambassador and his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
At a press conference this morning she branded the PM a coward and said MPs should discuss a confidence vote with her whips.
She said that ‘if a general election is on the cards we will take it because we would do a better job’, but said she does not believe there will be one before 2029.
The PM this morning painted himself as victim of New Labour architect Mandelson’s ‘lies’, claiming he believed assurances he ‘barely knew’ the paedophile financier – even though their relationship was already well-documented.
In what amounted to a plea for his job, Sir Keir stressed he ‘understands the anger and frustration’ of his own MPs, urging them to ‘remain focused on what we were elected for’.
But Mrs Badenoch said that the PM had more than enough evidence when he made Lord Mandelson ambassador to the US to know he was ‘unsuitable’.
‘It is now up to Labour MPs to do the right thing. I know there are many of them who are horrified by what has happened,’ she said.
‘They might now expect the prime minister to take responsibility but we know he won’t. He will have to be dragged out of Number 10, so I am making them an offer.
‘If they want the change they know the country needs, come and speak to my whips and let’s talk seriously about a vote of no confidence to force the moment.’
She added that Sir Keir’s ‘position is clearly untenable but it is for Labour politicians to decide when he goes because it is a question of when and not if he goes’.
Sir Keir attempted to throw MI5 and MI6 under the bus, suggesting they had failed to flag issued about Mandelson. He also insisted documents about the vetting process will be published ‘as quickly as possible’ – blaming police for delays.
But the premier has been warned the ‘clock is ticking’ on his leadership after an extraordinary Commons humbling yesterday, which left even loyalists admitting he is effectively finished.
