David Miliband ducks the biggest question of all

Gordon Brown support among Cabinet colleagues appeared to be collapsing last night, with Foreign Secretary David Miliband failing to give the Prime Minister his full public backing.

In a Mail on Sunday survey, just 14 out of 22 Cabinet ministers answered Yes when asked whether Mr Brown was fit to lead Labour into the next Election.

Mr Miliband, viewed as Mr Brown's biggest potential challenger, was among the eight who failed to scramble to his defence.

When the same question was posed seven weeks ago, six Ministers failed to declare a preference for Mr Brown.

While Mr Miliband backed the Prime Minister last time, a close aide yesterday refused to discuss the matter.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham went to extraordinary lengths to avoid saying whether he supported the Prime Minister.

Despite the participation of the vast majority of his colleagues, he said: 'Sorry to be awkward. We just don't answer surveys. Don't take that as an answer either way but we just don't do that - certainly not the Cabinet. So it's not a comment either way. That's just a nil response, I'm afraid.'

His reply is all the more significant as seven weeks ago he also claimed he did 'not respond to surveys' before his spokeswoman rang back an hour later to say 'yes' he did support the Prime Minister.

There was no such correction this time.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Culture Secretary Andy Burnham both refused to respond to the survey

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears was equally unwilling to address the question.

Without giving a reason, her spokesman said: 'Hazel will not be responding to your questions.'

Health Secretary Alan Johnson, another potential contender for the Labour leadership, failed to respond, as did Ruth Kelly, the Transport Secretary, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Business Secretary John Hutton. Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell's spokesman said: 'I can't contact him - he's on a flight.'

Question: Is the PM fit to lead Labour into the next election?

The remaining 14 members of the Cabinet were quick to declare their support, with Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward and Lords Leader Baroness Ashton giving Mr Brown the clearest thumbs-up.

Mr Woodward said: 'Yes, I have no doubt that Gordon Brown will and should lead the Labour Party into the next General Election.'