BRITISH PRIME minister Gordon Brown is to lay out his election campaign plans to Labour MPs early next week to deal with fears that his government is currently disunited and contradictory.
The failed leadership heave on Wednesday was not raised at yesterday’s cabinet meeting, during which Mr Brown demanded “a laser focus” from colleagues on the UK’s problems, including the freezing temperatures.
Former home secretary Charles Clarke, who is identified as the man who orchestrated the opposition to Mr Brown, was last night criticised by party members at a meeting in his constituency.
Former defence secretary Geoff Hoon, who along with ex-minister Patricia Hewitt provoked the crisis, faced sharp criticism from his local party organisation.
Labour’s election hopes have taken a knock after two opinion polls yesterday, with one showing a 12-point gap between the Tories and Labour, and another saying 60 per cent of voters now see Labour as the most divided party.
While 50 per cent of those polled by BBC's Daily Politicssaid Labour would have more appeal if Mr Brown was removed, 69 per cent accepted that there are "no obvious more popular candidates".
If Labour loses the election and Mr Brown stands down, schools secretary Ed Balls would expect to have the support of two of the largest trade unions – and two of Labour’s biggest funders, Unite and Unison.
Foreign secretary David Miliband has once again damaged his reputation with Labour MPs over his apparent dithering on Wednesday, when he issued a late statement during the abortive heave. His brother, energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband, in contrast, improved his standing within Labour for his more sure-footed handling during the challenge. He said yesterday that Wednesday was “a very difficult day for Labour”, but it would come to be seen as the day when there was “a very clear settled view” by “the vast majority” in the party that Mr Brown is “the right leader”.
Chancellor of the exchequer Alistair Darling denied as “categorically untrue” rumours repeated by Labour MPs that he had “floated the idea” that Mr Brown should step down voluntarily. But, concerned about future sales of British government debt to investors, he is understood to have demanded that Mr Brown be more clear that spending cuts will have to be made.
The challenge by Mr Hoon and Ms Hewitt has, at least, ensured that Mr Brown’s position is secure until the election campaign, since a further challenge is now deemed impossible to mount.
Meanwhile, leader of the House of Commons Harriet Harman, who is understood to have demanded a higher profile in the campaign to come, was yesterday fined £350 by Westminster Magistrates’ Court after she pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, but a second charge of driving while using a mobile phone was withdrawn.
Her licence, which already carries six penalty points for two speeding offences, was also endorsed with a further three penalty points.