LMC demands GPC chair steps down over GP contract fallout

An LMC has demanded that the leader of English GPs steps down, in light of the breakdown of the relationship between the BMA and the Government towards the end of last year.

Doncaster LMC has written to Dr Katie Bramall to demand that she ‘steps down’ to ‘allow new leadership to rebuild a constructive and professional relationship with the Government’.

The letter, seen by Pulse, said that the current situation has left GPs ‘sidelined’ at a time when the NHS is undergoing its most significant restructure in a generation.

It said that without ‘credible leadership’, the GMS contract and partnership model ‘risk being dismantled’ without GPs input and the profession ‘cannot afford to remain without a voice at the negotiating table’.

Pulse revealed that the BMA had lost its sole negotiating role for the GP contract and that distrust was the Government’s reason for overhauling the GP contract process from a negotiation with the GPC to a consultation where the BMA is just one of the stakeholders.

Yesterday the Government revealed the details of the 2026/27 contract, which was unilaterally imposed, and – although the contract is already final – the BMA will be voting on it at an emergency meeting tomorrow.

The letter mentioned Pulse’s coverage highlighting issues with ‘transparency in negotiations’, saying that 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’.

The Doncaster LMC letter said: ‘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.

‘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.

‘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.’

The LMC said that it is expecting the GPCE executive to acknowledge the receipt of the letter within five working days and confirming whether the chair and executive will step down ‘with immediate effect’.

It has also asked the GPCE to outline the process for ‘transitional arrangements’ and securing ‘a fresh mandate from the membership’.

A BMA spokesperson said: ‘Negotiations are reciprocal and only work when both parties are willing to work together. Unfortunately, despite the GPCE’s persistent willingness, and against historic and well-established procedures, it was the Government who refused to come to the table, disrespecting the elected leadership of the profession, and therefore the profession itself.

‘Rather than concerning itself with troublemaking in the trade press, GPCE must focus on the task at hand – finding a way to save general practice as we know it, for the sake of GPs and patients. The committee will meet on Thursday to discuss next steps.’

Pulse previously reported that there would be a vote of no confidence in Dr Bramall at the September GPC meeting, however when the agenda came out, there was no motion. Dr Bramall herself added a confidence vote to the agenda and that vote was passed.

Last month, a group of LMCs was considering declaring no confidence in the leadership of the GPC, over a lack of escalation in their dispute with the Government.

Pulse has recently looked into the reasons and timeline of the breakdown in relationship between the BMA and the Government.

Read all about the GP contract fallout here

Read all of our coverage of the 2026/27 contract here