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LATEST: Labour backbenchers plot to drive out Brown
Joe Murphy and Nicholas Cecil03.06.09
A plot to oust Gordon Brown has been hatched by Labour backbenchers, the Standard can reveal today.
An email will be sent by a group of Labour MPs to colleagues within the next week in the wake of expected drubbings in local and European elections.
Previously loyal Labour MPs are involved in the plot, the Standard has been told. "There is an agreement that emails will be circulated after the election," said one MP.
It came as Mr Brown was warned to assert his authority or risk a full-scale leadership crisis within days. The plea came from loyalists as ministers rallied to prop up the Prime Minister after days of mounting confusion and chaos in the Government.
But on the eve of the elections tomorrow Mr Brown took two heavy blows.
There were rumours Alistair Darling could resign from Government if he is demoted. His spokesman said: "Alistair has no plans to stand down."
The Guardian newspaper publicly withdrew its support from Mr Brown in a scathing editorial, saying it was time for Labour to "cut him loose".
In addition, there were reports rebel backbenchers were actively soliciting names for a letter calling on him to resign in the interests of the party.
Although there is no sign yet of senior Cabinet ministers being willing to muster a delegation telling the Prime Minister his time is up, that could change if next week's reshuffle, intended to stamp his authority on the Government, goes badly wrong.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson is seen by some ministers as a better figure to lead Labour into its most dangerous general election for a generation.
Labour MP John Mann said he hoped Mr Brown would still lead the party to the election. "I hope he will be but to do so he has got to go for it," he said. Former deputy leader Roy Hattersley said: "What he's got to do is really take control, not just appear to take control, not just hope for headlines, but he has to have a reshuffle which shows it's his Government. No compromises, no balance, Gordon Brown the boss."
Lord Falconer said he supported Mr Brown "as we go into an election". The comment implied the senior Blairite could speak out once tomorrow's elections are out of the way.
The crisis deepened yesterday when a series of ministers led by Jacqui Smith announced they were quitting in the reshuffle. Cabinet ministers jockeyed for position, with several insisting they did not want to be moved, including David Miliband and Alan Johnson.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the PM was "in power but not in control". "There's this feeling that people cannot run things because there is this disarray at the centre," he said.
Harriet Harman led a group of ministers who took to the airwaves this morning defending Mr Brown: "He does have a plan. I know there's a sense of frenzy, feverishness and speculation but I can tell you the Government is hard at work making sure we protect people in difficult times."
But the Guardian's pungent editorial wrote off the Prime Minister as a leader without vision or authority. It said: "The truth is that there is no vision from Brown, no plan, no argument for the future and no support. The public see it. His party sees it.
"Labour has a year left before an election; its current leader would waste it. It is time to cut him loose."
Reader views (18)
I feel Gordon Brown has inherited a load of problems, he inherited two wars, which were caused by 2 idiots, Bush and Blair. An economic crisis which was caused again by idiots. Tories, liberals and labour mp,s who have well and truly had their fingers in the till. These bloody mp,s state that they have done nothing wrong, but will return money. If they had done nothing wrong, then why pay back, i`m dammed sure i would not, if i had done nothing wrong. They are a load of thieving morons, sack the lot. I feel sorry for Gordon Brown, i feel he is doing his best.I have no time for the lousey mp,s, all except for Frank Field, who is excellant, he speaks a lot of sense. Who on earth will run this country, if Gordon Brown went? i can`t think of anybody.
- Pamela, merseyside
Plot, what plot? Even with inept Brown gone, the country will be run by the undesirable, incompetent left-overs and some revived 'Exs'. With so many resignations, this defunct corrupted Government is finished. Just give us an election now!
- K Lee, Cheshunt, UK
GORMLESS BROWN KEEPS SPOUTING THAT HE INTENDS TO LEAD LABOUR INTO THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION.
AT THE CURRENT RATE OF RESIGNATIONS IN THE CABINET AND ELSEWHERE IT LOOKS AS THOUGH BROWN WILL BE THE ONLY LABOUR MP LEFT STANDING!!
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe, Lancashire
If Brown is ousted then a General Election has to be called. The people will just not stand for whoever becomes Leader of the Labour Party to walk into No 10 again.
- Albert Hall, hove england
Give the constituencies three months to decide whether to sack their incumbent MPs and to select replacements. All parties need time for this, not just Labour. It also gives time for the Telegraph to look in detail at the remaining few hundred MPs' expenses.
An immediate election would not be a good idea, not least because we might end up re-electing some dishonourable members, but an election in October or November seems essential.
- Nigel, London
Gordon was recently contacted by the French regarding the D-day remembrance event in Normandy and understood the invitation to attend to be addressed to "a leader in a state". He obviously fitted the description and accepted which indicates to us all just how out of touch he is and his useless Labour Party are by not correcting his mistake. Just one more indication of the complete mess UK has become and the embarrassment we British have to endure on a daily basis.
Labour must go, but doom & bust Gordon must go now!
- Joe, Thornton Heath, UK
I think brown's doing an excellent job....of making sure we never have to put up with a labour government ever again!! Go for it gordie!!!
- Chris, Brighton, England.
Hazel Blears has just resigned. It will soon be Gordon No Mates. Last one to leave the Cabinet office please switch off the lights.
- B Gare, Norfolk Gorleston
Poor guy, he wasted so much money sending that Miliband the sillyband to Sri Lanka, just to get a bashing. He didn't save Prabakaran either, and yet to arrest Adele Balasingham
- Ariya, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Bring on the election. Now.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke
Harriet Harperson backing Gordon! - that says it all. Wouldn`t trust her as far as I could see her. Recently everytime Brown was out of the country Harriet would rush to the media with her latest daft idea just to further her alleged non existent leadership campaign. Labour MPs now have nothing to fear from Gordon and his aides. If Labour comes third when the votes for the EU election are announced on Sunday night it will be the night of the long knives for Gordon. Better to go now with dignity rather than to be removed kicking and screaming from No 10. This can`t be allowed to carry on until 2010 - if it does NuLabour will be a minority party. Brown obviously does not comprehend the extreme anger there is to his premiership right across the country - he just does not get it.
- B Gare, Norfolk Gorleston
It beggars belief that Brown is so out of touch with the mood of the electorate that he cannot see they are suffering the same frustrations about being denied an immediate opportunity for an election as Brown experienced when Blair would not give way to him.
- Bingham Macnamara, lymington, hampshire
This is no surprise, Gordon Brown is a politician of intrigue, plots and bullying, not a man of vision, courage, leadership or values. By surrounding himself with the likes of Damian MacBride, Ed Balls, Tom Watson, and Liam Byrne.
He pursued power for the sake of his own ambition but did not know what to do with it once he had it.
- Manny Goldstein, London, UK
BROWN LAUNCHED HIS ATTACK ON PENSIONS BY STOPPING FUNDS CLAIMING BACK TAX PAID ON DIVIDENDS HOW DID ALAN JOHNSON VOTE.
WHEN BROWN IGNORED THE PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN THAT HE SHOULD COMPENSATE EQUITABLE LIFE PENSIONERS DID ALAN JOHNSON SPEAK OUT TO CONDEM THIS SCANDALOUS DECISION.
JOHNSON COMING FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR WOULD BE AN EXPERT ON SAFEGUARDING FINAL SALARY PENSIONS.
IN SHORT WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIM AND BROWN.
BOTH SAFEGUARD THEIR OWN INTERESTS
- Alan Green, Woodford Green
Does anyone else think when he rang Susan Boyle in the priory he was really booking a room for himself, the guy looks like he is the edge perhaps Sara needs to spend more time with Gordy before he breaks down.
- Ge, Cornwall
Alan Johnson to lead the Labour party into the next election, and de-facto the next unelected Prime Minister?. It just shows how bereft of talent the Labour party is when the only 'serious' contender to replace Crash Gordon is some bloke who used to be the communist leaning leader of Post Office and Communications Workers Union, who's only claim to fame was that he had the power to bring the whole postal system out on strike at the drop of a letter. Someone please wake me up I must be having a nightmare or it's April 1st all over again!!.
- Pete, South London
Why are they bothering to rid him??? We don't want any of them in power.....not one nulabour do we want in power continuing to ruin our country, democracy, free speech etc etc and harbouring illegal immigrants and terrorists and protecting them with human rights laws and Eu politically correct nonsense. Do they really think ridding Brown will save the party... what a laugh!!
- Lin, LONDON ENGLAND
Dead man walking
- Ge, Cornwall
