"Why won't Portsmouth's Labour MPs say what they think?" as they have been criticised for toeing the party line

Portsmouth’s MPs have been challenged to ‘say what they think’ after being accused of dodging the issue of Keir Starmer’s future.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesperson for Portsmouth Charlie Murphy has called on the two Labour MPs to come clean with their constituents about their views at a time when support for their party has taken a huge hit.

It comes after the pair backed the Prime Minister after he sought to steady his party following heavy losses in last week’s local elections. This includes in Portsmouth where Labour lost all five seats it was defending, reducing the party’s representation on Portsmouth City Council from nine councillors to four.

Get access to trustworthy local news for just a fiver when you sign up for a digital subscription to The News

Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats increased their majority to 22 seats to take full control of the council, while Reform UK have 12, the Conservative Party three, alongside one independent councillor.

Mr Murphy said: “I was disappointed to see that Portsmouth’s Labour MPs were not clear on their position on whether Keir Starmer should stay or go.

“In your report, Portsmouth’s Labour MPs dodged the issue. They did not say they back Keir Starmer to lead the country, nor did they call for him to make way for someone else.

“People deserve to know what our MPs are doing in Westminster at critical moments like this. Will they, this morning, give a clear answer?

“Are they speaking up for Portsmouth, which just handed Starmer’s Labour a resounding defeat at the local elections last week?

Sign up for our free newsletters and let the headlines come straight to you

“Labour fell to third place across the city, a damning verdict on this government. We already know the city’s Labour MPs are backing the government’s plan to force Portsmouth into a monster merger with parts of near-bankrupt Hampshire.

“Will they ever put their head above the parapet to speak up for us, or will they always toe the party line? Are they backing the Prime Minister or not? Surely we all deserve to know what they really think.”

The News has approached Amanda Martin and Stephen Morgan for a comment.