SHADOW Chancellor John McDonnell believes Parliament is in “absolute disarray” and says a snap general election could happen as early as autumn.

Speaking to The Argus ahead of a tour of coastal towns, which included Hastings, Mr McDonnell says the Labour Party is drawing up its first Queen’s Speech and has an alternative budget it could bring in within months of being elected.

He said: “We don’t know which faction of the Conservative Party is in power, not just from day to day, but from hour to hour.

“The Government could fall apart by the autumn or the spring and if they do we have to be ready.

“I hope for the sake of the country the election comes soon because this Government is careering out of control, failing on Brexit, and with eight years of austerity people are watching their societies falling apart.”

The meeting in Hastings is part of a UK anti-austerity tour around “neglected” towns and cities.

Hastings is a key Labour target seat, as Amber Rudd was only re-elected by a tiny majority in 2017.

The shadow chancellor said he is building Labour’s next manifesto by listening to community leaders about problems such as unemployment, low wages, housing and skill shortages.

Mr McDonnell said he and party leader Jeremy Corbyn will give more power to communities and the neglected coastal towns he believes have suffered most from austerity.

He said: “If you look at coastal towns, they are the areas that are struggling and they are not necessarily turning the corner.

“I’m hearing from people that there is a lack of investment in road, rail and digital infrastructure.

“We want local people to develop their own local manifesto and that way we can get better policy making.”

Mr McDonell took aim at Southern Rail and said he plans to bring the troubled rail franchise back into public ownership.