Former British minister Peter Mandelson should quit as MP in the wake of the passport scandal, according to an independent poll today.
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: "Do you think Peter Mandelson should keep his position as Member of Parliament for Hartlepool or not?".
The newspaper reported today that 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.
PA