Labour big guns back under-fire Brown – in public, at least

Published on Monday 28 July 2008 02:19

GORDON Brown yesterday won the backing of Labour heavyweights despite continued speculation about his future following the Glasgow East by-election defeat.

John Prescott, the former deputy prime minister, said Mr Brown was the only person able to lead the country through the current economic downturn. Harriet Harman, Labour's deputy leader, said Mr Brown, in his decade as Chancellor, had been one of the most successful finance ministers in the world and deposing him would turn an economic challenge into a political crisis.

Their interventions added to a relatively calm fallout – at least in public – for Mr Brown despite the shock of Labour losing its third-safest seat in Scotland. But while the Prime Minister has apparently retained the support of his colleagues, Labour voters appear to be deserting him in their droves. A poll yesterday revealed more than one in five Labour supporters thinks Tory leader David Cameron would do better as PM than Mr Brown.

There had been intense speculation that defeat in such a heartland seat – where the former MP had a majority of 13,507, and which Labour had held since 1922 – would trigger the mass resignation of junior ministers in protest or force senior Labour figures to convey to Mr Brown that he no longer retained the support of the parliamentary party.

Instead, the fact that Westminster has just begun an 11-week summer recess appeared to work in Mr Brown's favour, with no rebels prepared to break cover. This allowed the party's high command to rally around the Prime Minister, who is currently holidaying first in Suffolk and will then come to Scotland, buying him breathing space in advance of what will be a crucial Labour Party conference in September.

Mr Prescott, who in his recent autobiography told of the times he had to intervene to calm rows between Mr Brown and the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, made his comments in his first internet blog.

Mr Prescott urged Labour MPs to stop briefing against the Prime Minister, whom he said would return "refreshed, renewed and ready" after his family holiday. Mr Prescott wrote: "I also hope that my fellow Labour MPs will take a break too – both from the Westminster bubble and divisive talk of a pointless leadership challenge.

"I've been honoured to work very closely with the last three leaders – John (Smith], Tony and Gordon. I'm also proud to have worked with all of Labour's Cabinet ministers since 1997.

"We have, undoubtedly, some very talented men and women. But with respect, none of them at the present moment has anywhere near the skills and experience, nationally and internationally, to lead this great party and country as we tackle these unprecedented major global problems."

He said the British public would never forgive Labour if it forced another leadership contest only a year after Mr Brown was elected unopposed. "That's what Tory and Lib Dem MPs do. It's not the Labour way," he claimed.

Ms Harman, speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show yesterday, blamed the Glasgow East defeat to the SNP on the global credit crunch and the rising costs of food and fuel. "What's in the best interests of the country is that we have a strong and experienced Prime Minister who has been one of the foremost finance ministers of the world over the last ten years," she said.

In a further boost to Mr Brown – and a signal to back-benchers considering mounting a rebellion against the Prime Minister – Justice Secretary Jack Straw issued a statement dismissing newspaper reports that he may lead a delegation telling Mr Brown to stand aside in the interests of the party and the country.

Mr Straw said he was "absolutely convinced" Mr Brown should not be ousted and said an autumn coup would be a "big mistake".

Despite being Mr Brown's leadership campaign manager little over a year ago, Mr Straw is regarded as the main party "grandee" able to deliver bad news – and even steady the ship temporarily if Labour needed to consider its next steps.

However, Mr Straw gave no hint of being ready to assist the plotters against Mr Brown. "I am absolutely convinced that Gordon Brown is the right man to be leading the Labour Party," he said.

"I was convinced of that when I was his campaign manager last year and nothing that has happened since has changed that view. The result in Glasgow East was obviously disappointing, but it would be a big mistake for the Labour Party to now turn in on itself and indulge in a summer of introspection."

However, the SNP lost little time in using its victory to pile the pressure on the government.

Alex Salmond, the First Minister, called for an "economic recovery plan" to avert a looming recession and ease the pressure on hard-pressed families suffering from soaring household bills.

Mr Salmond said: "The result in Glasgow East will not force a General Election. It may not force a change of Prime Minister. However, it must force a much needed change in fiscal policy to shelter hard-pressed families and companies from soaring energy costs and to help steer the economy from the rocks of recession."

Yet, there was even support for the Prime Minister from MPs normally more likely to rebel. John McDonnell, the left-wing MP who attempted to force a contest when Mr Brown succeeded Tony Blair, said a change of leader was not the immediate answer.

However, a poll of 30 marginal seats showed that Labour had slumped to third place behind the Liberal Democrats.

The Crosby/Textor poll put the Conservatives on 41 per cent, the Lib Dems on 18 per cent and Labour on 17 per cent.

The same poll a year ago put Labour six points ahead of the Tories.