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UNDER FIRE: PM Gordon Brown
LABOUR rebels have launched a blistering attack on Gordon Brown and urged the Cabinet to join their bid to unseat the Prime Minister.
Ex-Home Office Minister George Howarth and sacked Whip Siobhain McDonagh both today tell the News of the World Brown is heading for an election meltdown.
Calling for a leadership contest, Howarth says he doubts the PM "can regain the public's trust and confidence".
And McDonagh, whose demand for a contest sparked the latest challenge to Brown, says she did it "to encourage those leading figures in the Labour Party who want to stand as leader to do so".
Both also use the same phrase-saying "we cannot afford to sleepwalk" into electoral defeat. Downing Street sources yesterday claimed the rebellion amounted to "a small group of backbenchers loyal to Tony Blair".
But the revolt gathered more force last night when Brown had to sack another rebel MP, Labour vice chairman Joan Ryan, after she demanded a leadership vote.
Nine MPs-including Janet Anderson, Barry Gardiner, Kate Hoey, Frank Field, Jim Dowd and Graham Stringer-have now asked party officials to issue nomination papers for a leadership contest.
Leaked
But the News of the World understands that, after an emergency meeting, Gordon Brown personally ordered that the papers should not be handed out.
Ms McDonagh's decision to demand a contest took Westminster by surprise on Friday-and the rebels believe the news was leaked by No 10 to stop an attempted leadership coup.
Birkenhead MP Mr Field even compared Mr Brown to disgraced US President Richard Nixon, who had political opponents bugged.
He said: "The only people who could have leaked this are from the Labour Party itself. How can we trust our own party anymore when its leadership indulges in Nixonesque leaking against its members?"
The uprising is expected to grow over the next 48 hours before a crunch meeting of the party's executive council on Tuesday.
Then the rebels will demand that nomination papers are sent out-setting the scene for open warfare when the party's annual conference gets underway in Manchester next weekend.
Voters don't want want Gordon
BY MP GEORGE HOWARTH
WE have to act now to rebuild the support we have lost over the last 12 months because the country simply cannot afford to sleepwalk into a Tory government.
HOWATH: Rebuild
We need to take control and confront the problems that now face us. That means explaining what sort of country we want Britain to be. Labour's recent inability to explain how our policies fit together means we are unwittingly opening the door to the Tories.
This is why people have switched off. And there is the question of leadership.
Sadly, every test of public opinion shows that people seem to have decided Gordon is not the person they want to lead the country. I am not sure whether Gordon can regain the public's trust and confidence.
The best way of testing that is through a leadership contest. If Gordon were to win that contest, he would emerge stronger. Either way, it would give the government a fresh start.
We need to clear the air
BY MP SIOBHAIN McDONAGH
I'M no natural rebel. I have never voted against the government on any bill, we can't afford to sleepwalk to electoral defeat.
By asking for leadership nomination papers, I hoped to encourage those leading figures in the Labour Party who want to stand as leader to do so.
McDONAGH: Change
It's not because I don't like Gordon Brown. I know he is a good man, and was a brilliant Chancellor.
But being PM is a different job, with different skills. I'm convinced he would have been a better leader if there had been a proper leadership election last year, with other strong candidates.
But that didn't happen. So we must clear the air now. Those ministers or backbenchers who believe they could put us back on a winning course should speak up now.
By having a proper debate about what we need to do to win again in 2010, we have a chance of recovery.
So, we need to hear their plans, policies and winning ideas. It's up to them now.
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This article has 17 comments
The ghost of Robert Mugabe is haunting Mr Gordon Brown who spent much of his last one year in office chasing the old dictator through parliament, the European Union, the United nations and the G8 meeting. All along, the United Kingdom was craving for someone to led them in dealing with spiralling cost of food, fuel and mortgage, and to help deal with knife murders. Now Robert Mugabe has bought a new lease of life while Br Brown is struggling for his.
By Sam Akaki.. Posted September 14 2008 at 6:56 PM.
He and his party are a complete shambles but the Torys are no better and as for the lib lot well i feel Britain needs complete change and rescue from Europe and policies of the main three,we need a party that will defend Britain and it's people and put the people of Britain first.
By Tony Winchester.. Posted September 14 2008 at 4:53 PM.
Where is the proof that Brown was good at the Treasury? Where is the proof that he knows how to lead the country? He destroyed our finances with raids on pension funds and utilities, he threw money at the NHS, without getting much in return. He mismanaged the Northern Rock problem with the result that the country has ended up paying far more than it needed to. He has vacillated and shilly shallied over the 10p, the election, fuel subsidies, etc. He led us up the garden path over the referendum. he is useless, and should go, before he does any more damage to our pockets and our nation.
By Simon Evans.. Posted September 14 2008 at 3:55 PM.
Things not going right for them, is it us they are concerned about? If it was they would be supporting a call for a General Election to let the people speak but no,we are not part of the equation but their jobs are and would be on the line but that would never do.
By Rose Howard.. Posted September 14 2008 at 1:07 PM.
The Labour party must keep Gordon as their leader. Then at the next general election will are sure the have a Conservative government. Go on Mr Brown continue to drag this country down even further, just like Tony Blair did.
By David .. Posted September 14 2008 at 12:18 PM.
The Labour party must keep Gordon as their leader. Then at the next general election will are sure the have a Conservative government. Go on Mr Brown continue to drag this country down even further, just like Tony Blair did.
By David .. Posted September 14 2008 at 12:15 PM.
Should this country be thrown into turmoil because of a few compromised Blairites, their floozies and hirelings who want to revenge their hero and enhance their power?
We, who are watching on from the sides, find this situation totally absurd, and would have a good laugh at the spectacle, were it not harmful to the public interest.
By arun.. Posted September 14 2008 at 12:15 PM.
We are not decieved. I think its about time This highly informed and educated nation had the right to Referndums with say 20,000 signatures like the Irish and Swiss
By Jas.. Posted September 14 2008 at 11:48 AM.
Brown has for 10 years out of the 13 years the EU auditors have refused to sign off the books of the EU because up to 95% of the £35 million a day -£12 billions annualy or £156 billion we pay over the 13 years are unnacounted for/missing.....stolen? Yet no questions or threats to get their house in order. In the face of all this he and Tony agreed to pay more out of Thatchers famous claw back!
He has borrowed from banks £100 billion to give Northern Rock because when he knew six months before of the problem he did his usual thing.. He dithered and then in a Panic was forced to give this amount that will never be recovered. Then in May he made available another £50 billions available to banks with and open door to £200 billions. That is so far a total of £300 billions given to Mortgage and banks. He then fluffed it over the 10 p tax and borrowed another £2.5 billion plus needs another £1Billion for this each year. He now wants to give the banks another £40 billions for mortgages?? Meanwhile every one is telling him you can't go against the trend of the market, but as usual he is not listening and like Barings trader is squandering billions that should be abvailable to spend in other ways. The market sentiment world wide shows properties sinking. But this man never learns. He is stubborn like a mule. The future of the coming generations are being destroyed. And his plans are not working. Its all about saving him. Isn't it about time he though of Britain?? .
By Jas .. Posted September 14 2008 at 11:48 AM.
Its not the Conservative party they want to stop. They are worried about being able to have their snouts in the trough. No government could have made such a mess in every department without planning it first. Brown sets up the Bank of England to advise him, them completely ignores their advice and sells of half our Gold reserves for $270 when it reached $1070 and ounce. Even my dog knows you never sell an intrinsic item like gold at the bottom of the market, thats how you make money it goes up. But he did. But guess what he bought Euros. Clever or a plan to start handing us over into that currency? He has decieved and lied about the Election and Referendum. Further on the economic front he destroyed the £100 billion Pension industry and the pensions of millions by overtaxing so the funds could not give the returns. They of course collapsed. He obtained windfall taxes from the Utilities that still have to renew the leaking ancient systems so now our tarrifs have shot though the roof. Not bright.
By Jas.. Posted September 14 2008 at 11:46 AM.
Well said Tommy, i would like to add to your list however - political correctness, not budging on fuel tax, selling all our gold, open border policy,cutting our armed forces to the bone, allowing the United Kingdom to fragment, pension funds, you are right Tommy the list IS endless, i`m gonna be here all day. GET BROWN OUT, GET LABOUR OUT.
By colin hepple.. Posted September 14 2008 at 10:50 AM.
If the Labour party change leaders again we want a general election.
By Geoff Fish.. Posted September 14 2008 at 10:28 AM.
funny to see comments coming from George Howarth about gaining the publics trust again, based on what he is doing as our MP by supporting a football stadium and oversized shopping complex in the middle of our town it beggars belief that he comes out with these comments, surely the electorate has a right to decide the Prime Minister, we already have had one change of leader during this Parliament. If the Labour party thought Brown should be challenged for the leadership they had their chance last year, the potential to have two unelected Prime Ministers without a manifesto really is an insult to the electorate. As far as I'm concerned it seems George and his pals are more interested in saving their own seats than what the electorate wants or indeed needs.
By wayne.. Posted September 14 2008 at 9:43 AM.
Labour took over a surplus at the treasury. Now the treasury is £45 Billion in debt. Disposable income has fell by £3500 and people are in debt due to Brown punative tax policy. Labour party cannot manage its own finances and are £20 million in debt. Brown sold UK's gold reserve at a low price what has been the return? Labour have mismanged the economy, their party funds and I am constantly taxed and in debt due to their policy. BROWN HAS TO GO!
By steve tea.. Posted September 14 2008 at 9:26 AM.
The public certainly detest Brown, but it is the government and therefore the Labour party which will suffer because of the terrible laws and policies they have followed. The EU referendum, the 10 pence tax, the Iraq war, 42 day detention, uncontrolled borrowing, encouraging personal borrowing to push up house prices, expenses fiddles, education mess, NHS mess, increased violent crime, arrogance of ministers, delusion of ministers, continuous lies regarding the economy and just about everything else. The list is endless and I doubt there will be more than a handful of Labour MP's left after the next election.
By Tommy James.. Posted September 14 2008 at 9:18 AM.
get rid of the scottish creep and get an english man to steer us through stormy waters
By garry cutler.. Posted September 14 2008 at 8:00 AM.
Mr Brown will not go down in history as on of Britains finest PMs.He has had a bad run since his appointment with Northern Rock,the election fiasco,Iraq et al.It looks now that his tenure is coming to an end despite what he and his inner sanctum say.His office has a wounded look about it and he has all the appearance of a tired man,and he has barely been in the job a year.I would say to him,that hanging on to power is not worth it.Go, live your life with your family and represent your constituency while you can.
By johnny bantry.. Posted September 14 2008 at 5:05 AM.