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In full: Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt's leadership letter
6 Jan 2010
Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt today called for a secret vote over whether Gordon Brown should lead Labour into the next election. Below is the full letter sent to all Labour MPs.
Dear Colleague,
As we move towards a General Election it remains the case that the Parliamentary Labour Party is deeply divided over the question of the leadership. Many colleagues have expressed their frustration at the way in which this question is affecting our political performance. We have therefore come to the conclusion that the only way to resolve this issue would be to allow every member to express their view in a secret ballot.
This could be done quickly and with minimum disruption to the work of MPs and the Government. Whatever the outcome the whole of the party could then go forward, knowing that this matter had been sorted out once and for all.
Strong supporters of the Prime Minister should have no difficulty in backing this approach. There is a risk otherwise that the persistent background briefing and grumbling could continue up to and possibly through the election campaign, affecting our ability to concentrate all of our energies on getting our real message across.
Equally those who want change, should they lose such a vote, would be expected by the majority of the PLP to devote all of their efforts to winning the election. The implications of such a vote would be clear – everyone would be bound to support the result.
This is a clear opportunity to finally lay this matter to rest. The continued speculation and uncertainty is allowing our opponents to portray us as dispirited and disunited. It is damaging our ability to set out our strong case to the electorate. It is giving our political opponents an easy target.
In what will inevitably be a difficult and demanding election campaign, we must have a determined and united parliamentary party. It is our job to lead the fight against our political opponents. We can only do that if we resolve these distractions. We hope that you will support this proposal.
Yours fraternally,
Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt
Reader views (16)
''i think these two no nothing clowns should go instead. The world now needs world view problem solving superstars, and GORDON BROWN is one such person. so losers and persons of no world view MT brained trouble causeing shrimps, the people don't need you. Understand starksy and hutch?
- Boludo, london''
you, mate, are not only rather lonely in your laughable opinion of gordon brown, you are also, evidently, just as deluded as the politicians you admire
- Sarah Jones, bromley, kent, 06/01/2010 22:08
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Oh Patricia dear , get your 'bags' sorted or put your glasses back on
- Ed, London, 06/01/2010 19:31
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Looks like someone put the same old stale Bitter Lemons in the pick and mix!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 06/01/2010 16:55
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Which ones Geoff Hoon?
- Jacob, Dismantled Britain, 06/01/2010 16:42
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Oh no not the man who lied through his teeth to the Great British Public with his mate Tony about the Weapons of Mass Destruction before the Iraq war
- Cj, London, 06/01/2010 16:23
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How can Geoff Hoon claim that this Government has a good record to claim. I say this as a one-time supporter!.
From every aspect- economic management, foreign policy and domestic initiatives, the Government has been a disaster.
- Bill Caplin, Camden, 06/01/2010 16:22
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hey ZZZ john smith, but..... did't you have a.......zz
- Aunty Boludo, london, 06/01/2010 16:20
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With the possible exception of Alistair Darling & Alan Johnson, is there any cabinet minister, within this 'government' whom the electorate have any faith in? Thought not, Labour should realise they are the problem, not, just Brown! It does not matter how you dress up a turkey, it will still remain a turkey! We know that turkeys don't vote for Xmas, but come May, this is one turkey that will get a real roasting, irrespective of the dressing!
- Kevin Sullivan, LONDON, 06/01/2010 16:11
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ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz yawn, wake me up when it's over
- John Smith, London. UK, 06/01/2010 15:59
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Even if this challenege is but a 'Damp Squib', and quie a few political pundits reckon this to be the case. Nothing much will come of it. It will nevertheless be damaging to the Labour Party in many ways. Brown will be seen as a glowering, grumpy unmoveable object, and he will lead the party into the May election like Don Quixote tilting at the Windmills of history.
The betting is for a May Gen Election with short odds on the Torys to win. Labour are very long odds, and Brown will take Labour out to many years in the political wilderness. But nothing can predicted, and nothing is set in stone.
Brown may try to use some of the anti-terrorism legislation to seize power as he still has many, many Tractor Factories and Peasants & Workers Collectives to visit. (All alleged of course. But I jest at this statement, Brown would not be that stupid. But who knows the mind of a man whose thinking is as labyrynthine as Tony Blair's financial affairs?)
- Uncle Vanya, East Anglia Area UK (Now Part of EU-SSR-Land-Land), 06/01/2010 15:45
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@Boludo:
"The world now needs world view problem solving superstars, and GORDON BROWN is one such person."
Surely Deludo?
- Richiep, Brighton UK, 06/01/2010 15:10
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i think these two no nothing clowns should go instead. The world now needs world view problem solving superstars, and GORDON BROWN is one such person. so losers and persons of no world view MT brained trouble causeing shrimps, the people don't need you. Understand starksy and hutch?
- Boludo, london, 06/01/2010 14:39
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These two light-weights are leaving politics in a few months and this is their last, nay only contribution to political debate in three years. No chance of success.
HGordon made mibce-meat of the opposition leader in the Commons at Qusetion Time today, and is fast gaining support for his policies of fiscal stimulus and getting the UK back on its feet again
- Keith Price, Luton, Emgland, 06/01/2010 14:33
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Like rats leaving a sinking boat.Someone should explain to these two late.But say it very slowly to these Apologists for the most incompetent political party since the JACK JONES and HAROLD WILSON Government
- Johnny, swansea GB, 06/01/2010 14:25
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It is a complete waste of paper and time. They will ALL be kicked out of office at the next election, and hopefully a large number of them serving custodial sentences for misappropriation of tax payers' money.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK, 06/01/2010 14:19
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The rats are turning on each other as their ship founders. They should all go to the bottom never to rise again.
I would put a stake through their hearts.
- Anglo, Sussex UK, 06/01/2010 14:18
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