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London and Lancs gang up on Gordon
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor15 Sep 2008
They are spread across the country, but Gordon Brown's would-be assassins are concentrated in two regions - London and the North-West.
Members of the so-called "Lancashire Mafia", a tight-knit group of former government loyalists, have been out in force. Although many have links to and admire Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary was conveniently out of the country this weekend as he headed to Vietnam for a pre-arranged ministerial visit.
But another group of MPs from London and the South-East are just as determined to remove Mr Brown and pave the way for a new leader. With London containing crucial marginal seats needed to win a general election, the capital's Labour backbenchers fear the mood that led to Boris Johnson's sweep across the city will wipe out many of them at Westminster.
THE LONDON GANG
* Joan Ryan, MP for Enfield North. Squeaked home at last election. Former minister, sacked as Labour vice-chair and Mr Brown's envoy to Cyprus for speaking out.
* Siobhain McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden. One of a minority of MPs who refused to nominate Mr Brown as leader last summer. The first to go public on Friday after her name leaked, swiftly sacked as a government whip. Sister of former Labour general secretary Margaret McDonagh. Staunch Blairite.
* Barry Gardiner, MP for Brent North. Former Competitiveness minister said Mr Brown was damaging Britain's reputation overseas. Today called for ministers to show some "courage".
* Jim Dowd, MP for Lewisham West. Former whip known for his toughness in demanding loyalty to Tony Blair.
* Fiona Mactaggart, MP for Slough. Often described as the MP for the "London overspill", she is acutely aware of how Labour needs to appeal to southern voters.
THE LANCASHIRE CREW
* Janet Anderson, MP for Rossendale and Darwen. Tourism minister in Mr Blair's first government. Partner of Jim Dowd and friend of Mr Straw, who holds nearby constituency of Blackburn.
* George Howarth, MP for Knowsley North and Sefton East. Former Home Office minister and friend of Mr Straw. Regarded by the Brown camp as one of the plot's "ring-leaders".
* Gordon Prentice, MP for Pendle. Backbencher who refused to nominate Mr Brown for leadership last summer.
* Greg Pope, MP for Hyndburn. Ex-whip. Seat neighbours Mr Straw's.
* Graham Stringer, MP for Manchester, Blackley. Another plot "ringleader", according to Brownites. Former Cabinet Office minister.
* Frank Field, MP for Birkenhead. Former welfare reform minister. Well-known opponent of Mr Brown.
Reader views (1)
We must let this continue so that all Labour MPs will eventually be sacked then the last one out of Downing Street can switch the lights off and let the Cubans run the country. Can't be worse than this lot of incompetents.
- Chris Wiliams, BRIDGEND, MID GLAMORGAN, 15/09/2008 14:58
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