MPs call for ballot on Brown Leadership

[-:Undertaker:-]

Sky News
Reuters

Two former Cabinet ministers are calling for a secret ballot of Labour MPs to resolve the party's "leadership issue once and for all". Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt have written to all members of the parliamentary party asking them to support of vote on Gordon Brown's leadership.

Here is the email, in full:

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

I wonder if it could develop into another saga like they had in the summer, do you want Brown to go?

[Jahova]

No. Leave him be.

[Jay.]

Tony Blair is to blame for it all, which has happened to have an effect on the whole of labour. It's obvious the labour party is out now.

[Lycan]

It'll be a close call between Conservatives and Labour, even the Lib Dems have admitted that they won't win.

In my local area i will be voting Lib Dem as i know labour won't win locally and there's no way i want a do nothing but want to hunt animals with dogs conservative government.

[hah]

i think ukip should take over

[Fez]

I predict Brown to stand the general election AND THEN resign or something like dat.

[Ardemax]

no, he's doing fine

conservatives will win next election then everyone will start hating them


thnxxx

[untrustus]

no, he's doing fine

conservatives will win next election then everyone will start hating them


thnxxx

i don't like them already

[GommeInc]

Meh, was bound to happen. He's a nice man Gordon Brown, but he's far from a great Prime Minister. Both the Conservatives and New Labour (basically Conservatives anyway) are terrible, it's odd that no-one has thought to bring back Labour as a party :/

[-:Undertaker:-]

Meh, was bound to happen. He's a nice man Gordon Brown, but he's far from a great Prime Minister. Both the Conservatives and New Labour (basically Conservatives anyway) are terrible, it's odd that no-one has thought to bring back Labour as a party :/

New Labour is nothing like the real Conservative Party, New Labour is socialist to the core but the difference is that New Labour itself doesn't practise socialism but forces it on us with higher taxes and so on. I say that, but its always been like that; when Clemette Atlee gained office he filled Downing Street up with expensive antiques. It was and is the same with Josef Stalin, Vladimir Lenin, Arthur Scargill, Neil Kinnock, Derek Hatton and so on.

The Conservatives now, I don't know what to think. The 'cast-iron' promise from Dave melted away just as Labours did so really, what is the difference. David Cameron promises to cut the deficit but pledges not to cut foreign aid.