UK:GORDON BROWN was undermined again yesterday by leaks confirming the anxieties of cabinet colleagues amid fears of further resignations designed to destabilise his leadership during or after Labour's Manchester conference, writes Frank Millar, London Editor.
The nervousness in Labour's high command was betrayed by MP Roberta Blackman-Woods as she defended the prime minister and attacked those calling for a leadership election.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's World at One programme, Ms Blackman-Woods insisted that "people want the governing party to govern properly through difficult times" and that there was widespread support for Mr Brown.
However the MP, who is a parliamentary aide to defence secretary Des Browne, conceded the prime minister might face further resignations from the lower ranks of the government by people seeking to "destabilise" his leadership.
Business secretary John Hutton was obliged to deny reports that his parliamentary aide, Eric Joyce, was about to resign. Mr Joyce on the other hand appeared to leave the option open when he said: "It's essential that we are unified, as we go into conference, and see what Gordon has to say."
Earlier this week Mr Hutton and work and pensions secretary James Purnell reinforced suspicions that some cabinet ministers are deferring a final verdict on Mr Brown until after conference when they declined to criticise those calling for a contest. Mr Joyce's words likewise underlined the fact that everything said in Manchester will be carefully analysed for signs of disloyalty or rebellion.
Following his close involvement in the Lloyds TSB rescue of HBOS, Mr Brown yesterday pledged to "clean up" the financial system and to end what he called "irresponsible behaviour" in the money markets. Former deputy leader John Prescott, meanwhile, insisted Mr Brown was "the best man" to lead Britain through the global crisis - while warning Labour MPs that "disunity kills" political parties.
"Disunity kills parties, whether it's Tories or Labour, and after 10 years it's amazing that we should be allowing a climate of opinion to undermine confidence in our party as to the role of a Labour government," said Mr Prescott: "I think if there's disunity, any party, all parties lose - the evidence is absolutely clear."
The undermining of confidence in Mr Brown continued, however, with leaks to the Guardian newspaper from the political cabinet earlier this week, at which several ministers reportedly criticised a decision to focus the discussion on Conservative weaknesses rather than Labour's unpopularity.
One account said the tenor of the meeting was "bizarre and a denial of reality" as ministers were briefed on "how, deep down, David Cameron is not really popular".