We will not oust bungler Brown insist ministers

The bruising by-election defeat last week at the hands of the Tories has fuelled rumours that Cabinet ministers are plotting to oust him.

But Health Secretary Alan Johnson insisted that there was “absolutely no appetite to change the leader”. He conceded, however, that the Government needed shorter-term policies.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband denied he was preparing a challenge and said Mr Brown remained “the best man for the job”.

Their support for the Prime Minister followed weekend speculation that Mr Brown is under pressure to stand down. Senior figures are ready for the challenge and can rely on the backing of dozens of MPs, it was claimed.

Labour rebels kept up criticism following last week’s defeat at the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, dire local election results and plummeting opinion poll ratings.

Mr Brown is facing calls from a wealthy donor and a former minister to reshuffle his Cabinet. Last night speculation was growing that he may also bow to pressure to appoint a deputy or First Secretary of State.

Some MPs say he has until Labour’s autumn party conference to “shape up or ship out’’ and show he will win a general election.

The Government needed to look at some short-term policies as it steered the country through the current “really rocky times’’, said Mr Johnson.

He conceded that the Premier had struggled to put across his message to voters, saying: “He’s not lights, camera, action.”

But he added: “A change of leader is not the answer. There is absolutely no appetite, I believe, in the party to change the leader. Gordon Brown was the towering figure a year ago and is the towering figure in the party now.”

Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott voiced his support for Mr Brown, while admitting that voters had given Labour a “kick up our backside”.

But a leadership process would be “deadly’’ and Mr Brown should stay put, he said.

The Daily Express has learned that in a conference call involving ministers following the Crewe defeat, Chief Whip Geoff Hoon underlined the need for the Prime Minister and Cabinet to manage relations better with jittery backbenchers, some of whom are keener than ever to criticise the leadership.

Labour rebel Graham Stringer yesterday repeated his challenge to a Cabinet minister to “have the backbone to rescue the party’’ by challenging Mr Brown.

And former minister Frank Field, who led the revolt over removal of the 10p income tax band, called for political heavyweights such as Charles Clarke, Alan Milburn, David Blunkett and Stephen Byers to be brought back into the Cabinet.

He suggested they replace Jacqui Smith as Home Secretary, Mr Miliband as Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw as Justice Secretary and John Hutton at Business.

With MPs on their Whitsun break, Labour managers are using their absence to dismiss rumours of plots and takeover battles. The recess may also give a besieged Mr Brown a chance to mull over the advice he has received from all quarters.

Labour peer Lord Desai has said he needed to improve, while millionaire Labour donor Lord Paul told him to be much tougher.

But the Prime Minister faces more gloom. Annual Whitehall reports revealed that two-thirds – 50 out of 76 – of Government targets on policies from transport to health, education, poverty and crime, had been missed.

And he faces a tough few weeks when MPs return to work next Monday, including a likely revolt over plans to extend maximum detention without charge for terror suspects to 42 days.