25th of February 2026
Dear Dr Bramall,
We are writing to express our loss of confidence in the leadership of the GP Committee for England (GPCE) and to call for leadership renewal.
Our Specific Request
We request that you step down to allow new leadership to rebuild a constructive and professional relationship with Government and restore the profession’s seat at the negotiating table.
Background
The recent breakdown in the GPCE’s relationship with Government, resulting in the loss of our exclusive negotiating rights, represents the most serious challenge to the profession in a generation. This loss of mandate has not arisen from Government manoeuvring alone, but from a series of governance failures and decisions within GPCE leadership that have weakened trust and credibility at the highest level (https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/politics/dhsc-and-nhse-cancel-all-meetings-with-bma-gp-leaders/)
Governance and Professional Concerns
We have significant concerns with evidence about the governance, accountability, and conduct of the GPCE executive:
• Transparency in negotiations: The handling of GMS regulation changes has been perceived as lacking transparency. Requests for supporting evidence during contractual discussions were not met, leaving the profession to manage increased workload and expense without clear scrutiny of the trade offs involved.
https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/2025-26-contract/bma-report-acknowledges-mistakes-in-gp-contract-amendments-scrutiny/ .
https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/2024-25-gp-contract/gpce-executive-team-has-nothing-to-hide-says-chair/
https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/2025-26-contract/gpc-leaders-accused-of-misleading-gps-as-dhsc-produces-evidence-contract-was-agreed/
• Accountability and adherence to policy: Decisions taken by the GPCE executive appear to diverge from LMC conference policy and the formally agreed steer of the GPC. A motion carried at GPCE in November mandating collective action was not implemented, leaving the profession without the unified response it had endorsed.
https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/politics/no-gp-collective-action-planned-until-next-spring-says-bma-gp-leader/
• Transparency in governance: A vote of confidence in the Chair was added to the agenda, and the press was briefed before LMCs were directly informed. This sequence of events raises questions about priorities and the appropriate channels for committee communication.
https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/politics/gpc-england-chair-to-face-vote-of-no-confidence-amid-contract-changes-row/
• Conflicts of interest: Concerns have been expressed about whether appropriate safeguards were applied in recent committee appointments considering personal relationships within GPCE.
(Evidence available)
• Professional judgement: Remarks at the LMCs Conference referring to Government officials as “traitors” were subsequently described by ministers as “deeply unprofessional” and cited as a reason for cancelling meetings with GPCE leadership. This episode undermined the profession’s negotiating position and credibility at a critical time.
https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/analysis/special-investigations/the-gp-contract-fallout/how-the-government-froze-the-bma-out-of-gp-contract-negotiations
• Governance and fiduciary duty: The Chair’s remuneration together with a recent request for additional support funding has prompted calls for scrutiny in the context of value for money, particularly as practices face severe financial pressures.
(Evidence available)
• Informal decision making: Concerns have been raised that the Chair has not consistently followed the formal steer of the GPC and LMCs, instead seeking informal opinions in ways that may risk undermining formally agreed positions
https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/contract/local-leaders-to-be-consulted-on-new-gp-contract-wishes/
• Consistency of approach: The Chair previously supported the removal of a predecessor due to concerns about maintaining effective government relations, yet similar or greater challenges in government relations have arisen during the current tenure.
(Evidence available)
Why Leadership Renewal is Essential
This is not about personalising the issue or about the Government choosing leadership it prefers. It is about ensuring that the profession has a credible, professional leadership team capable of rebuilding a working negotiating relationship with Government based on respect and effectiveness.
The current situation has left us sidelined at a time when the NHS is undergoing its most significant restructure in a generation. Without credible leadership, the GMS contract and partnership model risk being dismantled without our input. The profession cannot afford to remain without a voice at the negotiating table.
What We Expect to Happen
We expect the GPCE executive to:
• Acknowledge receipt of this letter within five working days.
• Confirm whether the Chair and executive will step down with immediate effect.
• Outline the process for transitional arrangements and securing a fresh mandate from the membership.
We will be sharing this letter with LMCs and the media outlets to encourage open discourse in the hope that by having a transparent discussion, we can clarify these issues and bring confidence back to the leadership of our profession.
Yours sincerely,
Doncaster LMC