Tonight:
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Week could spark leadership bid
1 Jun 2009Gordon Brown faces a week of pressure that could trigger a leadership coup.
Tonight: Parliamentary Labour Party meeting amid claims members are preparing to speak out against the Prime Minister's leadership.
Tuesday: PM will attempt to steady nerves at weekly Cabinet session.
Wednesday: Set to be dominated by clashes with David Cameron at Prime Minister's questions.
Thursday: European and local elections, where polls show Labour is facing a record low vote.
Friday: Labour set to lose control of its final four shire councils.
Saturday: No 10 braced for searing criticism from former ministers if Labour's local vote sinks below 20 per cent.
Sunday: Brown's leadership will come under strain if Labour comes below Ukip in European election results. Breakthrough for BNP would trigger deep unrest.
Monday: Probable date for Cabinet reshuffle as Brown tries to seize back momentum. Rebels could strike as MPs return fresh from dealing with defeats.
Reader views (3)
I think New Labour need to wise up. We want an election not another coronation if and when Brown falls over.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK, 01/06/2009 13:55
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Replacement PMs are in fact legal. The Queen has under the current unwritten constitution the obligation to call upon the leader of the largest House of Commons party to form a government She has however the constitutional right to advise and warn, and to be informed. I would love to be a fly on the wall at the weekly Royal audience. She must be advising Gordon that it is time to consider his position. This all goes to show that we need a WRITTEN constitution in the UK.
- Jb, London, 01/06/2009 13:47
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This business of appointing an unelected PM is not on.
The rule should be that such appointments are given to the Country to decide, whether the individual is right and wanted. If a general election is out for fear of a political party losing then at least 'we', the country, should have the right to choose from a list of candidates.
These replacement PMs makes a mockery of the democratic system.
- Tony Islander, Herts, 01/06/2009 10:28
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