The plot against Brown emerges
By politics.co.uk staff
A group of Labour MPs are collecting signatures for a letter calling on Gordon Brown to step down, claiming they can get 80 supporters by the end of the day.
The reports, which emerged in the Guardian today, suggest some sources believe they could hand the letter in to Downing Street by the end of the day.
There is no hard copy of the letter. Instead, backbench MPs are being asked to send an email to particular address saying they support a statement saying Mr Brown should step down.
But the plan may come to nothing because of its publicity. The rebels had intended for it to remain secret so as to avoid charges of disloyalty ahead of the local and European election tomorrow.
Fifty people were thought to have signed at the start of the week, although some later MPs were put off by the left-wing credentials of those who had signed first.
Analysts have said any leadership challenge against the prime minister would only be successfully mounted if it acquired that type of broad-based support.
It follows comments by senior figures within the party that stopped short of complete support for Mr Brown.
Former party leader Roy Hattersley told Newsnight yesterday the prime minister had to “really take control” of his party “by the scruff of the neck”.
And Tony Blair’s ex-flatmate Lord Falconer, the former lord chancellor, refused to confirm he wanted Mr Brown in No 10 until the next general election.
He told the Today programme he backed the prime minister “as we go into an election” – referring to tomorrow’s poll only.
Downing Street is expected to make an attempt to reassert its control with a sweeping reshuffle in the coming days which could include the removal of Alistair Darling from No 11.
