UK NEWS
WE WILL NOT OUST BUNGLER BROWN INSIST MINISTERS
PRESSURED: Gordon Brown
By Alison Little Deputy Political Editor
MINISTERS rallied to support an embattled Gordon Brown last night in the face of growing dissent among Labour MPs.
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.
Video 
GOOD MINISTERS SHOULDN'T OUST HIM IT SHOULD BE THE BRITISH ELECTORATE THAT DO!
26.05.08, 7:03pm
I'm glad to hear that ministers won't oust this sorry unelected prime minister.....it should be left to the electorate to decide and boot this prime minister and this government out of office.....people beware don't let these scoundrels dupe you into believing them for they hold us all in utter contempt and don't care about protecting us from harm!
I can't wait for that day to arrive, personally¬!
• Posted by: RealIstic08 • Report Comment
WE WILL NOT OUST BUNGLER BROWN INSIST MINISTER
26.05.08, 2:58pm
I applaud Labour Ministers for supporting Bungling Gordon Brown and insisting he stays as PM.
Gordon Brown is the best Political Ammunition that the Conservatives could wish for. However, He and his Incompetent Government are bound for annihilation at the next General Election irrespective of whether he remains in the chair.
• Posted by: EmperorMing • Report Comment
BUNGLING BROWN
26.05.08, 2:09pm
It's just not his failure to tackle problems it is also the support he gets for example John Prescott's endorsement doesn't do him any favours, Beckett well who would believe her when she completely misunderstood the Crewe elections and the gutless cabinet who have no appetite for a fight.
Well here's a solution to some of his problems.
1) when he did his last Budget hisFuel calculattions were based on a barrell rate of approx $50 per barrel we are a net exporter of oil so increasing production in other oil rich nations should not affect our supply only pric, So fix our fuel cost's at $50 thats approx £0.75 per litre at the pumps he would still get a windfall with the difference between the our usage and what is exported.
Inflation sorted and costs reduced providing the fat cats pass on the transport cost reduction.
Sack this new policy team thats come up with a carbon footprint allowance it sounds like a new TAX.
• Posted by: daiboyo • Report Comment
OSTICHES WITH HEADS IN SAND
26.05.08, 2:00pm
According to one press report today, Labour is privately acknowledging that their policies have lead to a rise in working class support for fringe parties. But Labour ministers still won't listen, still won't change their leader and still won't change their policies.
Why? Do they want to commit political suicide?
Labour must oust their "hug a foreigner" leader, bungler Brown, and start looking after British workers, else Labour will be consigned to history.
• Posted by: Peter_Pan • Report Comment
A 'CHANGE ' OF LEADER IS NOT THE ANSWER ?
26.05.08, 1:36pm
Well, Well, A Labour Minister HAS ACTUALY TOLD THE TRUTH FOR ONCE.
Correct, its a change of Goverment the Country needs to survive the Social engineering onslaught ,
they are all Bunglers , its just Brown is slighty better at it than his pets he calls Ministers.
At least Brown makes Blair look like a good liar, Brown is not in the least bit convincing when he lies, and thats just about everytime he opens his mouth
• Posted by: BratislavaUK • Report Comment
YES LETS LEAVE HIME IN OFFICE UNTIL THE TIME IS RIGHT!
26.05.08, 1:19pm
It wouldn't be prudent to oust this unelected prime minister since he's doing a very good job of bringing his party down with him.....
What I gravely worry about is that he has no principles and may even take the rest of the country down with him.....
When the time is right it won't be his ministers but the British electorate that brings him crashing down......I hope he doesn't pluder the country into further turmoil.......he probably will though because he'll want to leave the country in a mess for the next government....which will be the Conservatives....be one step ahead of him Mr Cameron and the Conservatives!
• Posted by: RealIstic08 • Report Comment
To view all 'Have Your Say' comments, click this button...