Ballot on Brown!

[Ford Super Sunday]

Two ex-cabinet ministers are calling for a secret ballot on Gordon Brown's leadership.

Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon have written to Labour MPs calling for the leadership issue to be sorted out "once and for all".

They wrote it could be done "quickly and with minimum disruption" and would allow the party to "go forward".

It follows rumours that critics of Mr Brown were trying to persuade ministers to resign in a bid to force him out.

Strong supporters of the prime minister should have no difficulty in backing this approach

BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the former health and defence secretaries had written to Labour MPs to call for a Labour leadership ballot saying the party had to either back the PM or sack him.

In their letter, Ms Hewitt and Mr Hoon said "strong supporters of the prime minister should have no difficulty in backing this approach".

The BBC understands there will be a statement of some sort after 1300 GMT.

Labour MP Frank Field, who has criticised Mr Brown in the past, told the BBC he welcomed the call. But minister Chris Bryant said it would look "self indulgent within the party".

Mr Brown saw off efforts to unseat him last year, when cabinet minister James Purnell quit and called on him to go.

There were suggestions on Tuesday that a cabinet minister might be about to quit to put pressure on Mr Brown's leadership - which were dismissed by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson as "pure journalistic invention".

But later, after her name was suggested by one website, Tessa Jowell put out a statement saying: "This story is complete and utter rubbish and I have no intention of resigning."

Sources within Downing Street dismissed talk of a plot as "nonsense".

They seem to finally realise their jobs are on the line, and are desperate to try and save themselves with this, though it's unlikely to work I would have thought.

Full letter

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

[Sir Fynwy]

They seem to finally realise their jobs are on the line, and are desperate to try and save themselves with this, though it's unlikely to work I would have thought.

Full letter

There will be a ballot on Brown sometime in the next 6 months and not one carried out by a bunch of MP's trying to stay on the gravy train

[AjcW]

Just watched this on Sky News, that ladies reaction seemed to be fully against it.

Im sure its just an attempt to bring a snap election as Browns non supporters feel this is the only way of keeping their jobs, Hoon and Hewitt dont actually believe they can bring about a substantial challenge to Browns leadership.

[hairy]

Its just like the Tories before they lost power. A divided party when they need to show unity.

[Daggers]

Politicians = cunts

[davieG]

Politicians = ****s

Serving a purpose rather than themselves

[Hitesh]

These two are on a bit of a Thelma And Louise style breakaway and going no where quickly! They don't have any support which would make a difference and I can't see it doing much apart from ruffle a few feathers and cause embarrassment for all politicians!

[Daggers]

Anyway - what the frig has this thread got to do with the snow?

[hairy]

Everything to do with snow!

[AjcW]

: Downing St: PM Is relaxed and getting on with the Job.

[Daggers]

Everything to do with snow!

Brown toots?

Can't say I'm surprised.

[Finnegan]

Its just like the Tories before they lost power. A divided party when they need to show unity.

Yeah, likely, and I think it's almost generally accepted that Cameron's a shoe-in. But while they likely do need to be united, being united behind Gordon Brown isn't really likely to get them re-elected, is it?

[davieG]

Yeah, likely, and I think it's almost generally accepted that Cameron's a shoe-in. But while they likely do need to be united, being united behind Gordon Brown isn't really likely to get them re-elected, is it?

There's more than one United

[hairy]

Yeah, likely, and I think it's almost generally accepted that Cameron's a shoe-in.

There is plenty of time for him to screw it up yet. The polls show Labour are catching since he started opening his mouth again. I think his best bet is to keep shut and have more pictures taken of him relaxing at home.

[Finnegan]

There is plenty of time for him to screw it up yet. The polls show Labour are catching since he started opening his mouth again. I think his best bet is to keep shut and have more pictures taken of him relaxing at home.

Agreed. He's such a smarmy, sleazy twat that to be honest - despite this silly mantle of The Tory We're Allowed To Like - I really don't think I'm the only person that finds him utterly repugnant.

But at the end of the day, all he has to do is sit back and let Labour hang themselves because quite frankly it's not his own efforts that have him firmly in the lead it's Labour's self destruction.

He won't win the next general election, Labour will simply lose it.

[Webbo]

There's still everything to play for in the election. The televised debates they are planning to show before the election could change everything.

Personally I'd of thought that Cameron and even Clegg would come across better on TV than Brown (probably why some Labour MPs want rid) , but you can never tell.

[Guest Bilo]

Agreed. He's such a smarmy, sleazy twat that to be honest - despite this silly mantle of The Tory We're Allowed To Like - I really don't think I'm the only person that finds him utterly repugnant.

But at the end of the day, all he has to do is sit back and let Labour hang themselves because quite frankly it's not his own efforts that have him firmly in the lead it's Labour's self destruction.

He won't win the next general election, Labour will simply lose it.

I think that's true of most elections won by the opposition party to be honest. Labour's own landslide victory in 1997 was as much due to the massive unpopularity of the Tory government as a desire on the part of the electorate to elect Bliar. All that is happening now is a repeat of that election with the roles reversed; a tired unpopular PM leading a divided party into an election against a young and PR friendly shadow cabinet promising wholesale change.

As for Cameron himself, he does appear to be the Tory answer to Blair and the electorate clearly love it. Unfortunately for Labour, Brown has become their answer to John Major. A man with a charisma by-pass being pummelled in the despatch box on a weekly basis with his party queuing up to throw him out in order to grab half a chance at retaining power. I can't see Labour's negative campaigning winning them anything but equally negative headlines, if all a government can do is smear the opposition rather than talk up its own achievements after 13 years in office then you have to question their legacy.

The poll results may show the Tory lead narrowing, but I'm still pretty sure the Cameron family will be sending Christmas cards from Number 10 this year.

[Guest Bilo]

There's still everything to play for in the election. The televised debates they are planning to show before the election could change everything.

Personally I'd of thought that Cameron and even Clegg would come across better on TV than Brown (probably why some Labour MPs want rid) , but you can never tell.

You only have to see debates in Parliament to realise that Brown is odds-on to finish third in those debates. Having said that though, he may come out all fists flying with his back to the wall. Only time will tell.

[haraven]

Pardon my non-excusable intrusion, but when starting to read this thread I thought "Why the hell are people taking the piss out of class defender Wayne Brown?"

[Sparky]

Agreed. He's such a smarmy, sleazy twat that to be honest - despite this silly mantle of The Tory We're Allowed To Like - I really don't think I'm the only person that finds him utterly repugnant.

But at the end of the day, all he has to do is sit back and let Labour hang themselves because quite frankly it's not his own efforts that have him firmly in the lead it's Labour's self destruction.

He won't win the next general election, Labour will simply lose it.

I was pretty confident of voting Tory in the GE up until i heard Osbourne spout his "were in it together" bollocks at the party conference, Thats what fooking Craig Levein said !!!

If i vote Tory im convinced it will come back and bite me in the arse

[BoneDog]

You only have to see debates in Parliament to realise that Brown is odds-on to finish third in those debates. Having said that though, he may come out all fists flying with his back to the wall. Only time will tell.

What happened to William Hague? I seem to remember him being very good in the debates in Parliament. I can't remember why he isn't leader of that party anymore

[MPH]

There's still everything to play for in the election. The televised debates they are planning to show before the election could change everything.

Personally I'd of thought that Cameron and even Clegg would come across better on TV than Brown (probably why some Labour MPs want rid) , but you can never tell.

You only have to see debates in Parliament to realise that Brown is odds-on to finish third in those debates. Having said that though, he may come out all fists flying with his back to the wall. Only time will tell.

For someone who cant argue very well televised debates are going to be a dead cert loss... coupled with the fact then when you have THREE parties involved... who are the two wannabe winners going to be taking the biggest pops at? Gordon Brown. His agreement to take part show the actions of a desperate man. He is clinging to the foolish notion he can some how win over the public when in reality he will alienate himself even further. The Tories will say " we are going to do x.y.z" so will the Lib Dems, GB will say " we are going to do x,y,z" and they will just point out about the last few years.

What happened to William Hague? I seem to remember him being very good in the debates in Parliament. I can't remember why he isn't leader of that party anymore

Too Bald and shiney

[Daggers]

If City organised Labour party coups - they'd be as totally shit as this one.

[Guest Bilo]

What happened to William Hague? I seem to remember him being very good in the debates in Parliament. I can't remember why he isn't leader of that party anymore

He tore Bliar a new one weekly in Parliament but the electorate were none too keen on him and were still in love with Labour around the time, this being pre-9/11 and therefore Iraq and Afghan Wars. The press thought him arrogant and a couple of (frankly hilarious) PR gaffes pretty much killed off his credibility in the run-up to the election. Hague undoubtedly has a very good brain but the consensus seems to be that that job came too early for him. He still has a prominent role in the Shadow Cabinet though, I do believe he'd be Shadow Foreign Secretary.

[Tabou]

I don't think that this has anything to do with Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon desperately trying to keep their jobs as mentioned earlier in the thread. Hewitt has already announced that she is standing down at the next GE to spend more time with her husband and coke-head son.