Survey shows Mandelson should quit as MP

Disgraced ex-minister Peter Mandelson should quit as MP in the wake of the passport scandal, according to an independent poll in his constituency.

Market research showed that 46% of those questioned in the former Northern Ireland Secretary's Hartlepool constituency wanted him to stand down.

The survey, commissioned by North East newspaper the Sunday Sun, asked more than 1,000 voters if they thought Peter Mandelson should keep his position as Member of Parliament for Hartlepool.

Out of 1,048 interviews, a total of 476 (46%) wanted him to go, 356 (34%) thought he should stay, and 214 (20%) did not indicate a preference either way.

The poll was carried out on Thursday and Friday in Hartlepool town centre and the outlying villages of Hart, Elwick, Greatham, Seaton Carew and Newton Bewley.