Eddie Barnes: David Cameron couldn't have scripted this one any better

The party that once perfected the art of news management yesterday kicked off its New Year general election campaign with a futile coup that served only to confirm – lest we had forgotten – how much they mistrust the man they want us to elect as Prime Minister. Quite how much worse Labour could have started than yesterday is difficult to imagine.

Both Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon pleaded that they were not staging a coup, and that their letter was simply an attempt to extinguish speculation about Mr Brown's position. Clearly, it was no such thing.

We had assumed that last summer's failed plot to bring down Mr Brown was the last chance the party rebels had before the election. But Ms Hewitt and Mr Hoon yesterday decided to give it one last shot – a day before Mr Brown was due to launch his economic recovery plan. David Cameron could barely have scripted it better.

The central problem for Labour's rebels ever since Mr Brown took over as Prime Minister in July 2007 has never been resolved. They lack a pretender to the throne.

Alan Johnson, the man most perceive as being the leader-elect, doesn't want to do it. David Miliband, Tony Blair's favoured candidate, blinked when he had the chance. Consequently, without a flag to rally around, the party has constantly shied away from doing the fatal deed.

For three hours yesterday, it appeared this time it might be different. Mr Hoon's and Ms Hewitt's tactic of going straight to the parliamentary party for a secret ballot would by-pass the timid Cabinet, opening the way for a grassroots rebellion. And the Cabinet's big beasts fell silent.

But as with last summer's failed coup, the same problem emerged. The Cabinet eventually rolled behind Mr Brown. And without a credible alternative, few MPs were willing to stick out their necks and go for change.

That none of this appears to have stopped Mr Hoon and Ms Hewitt – neither of whom could be described as being particularly naive – was causing mystification in the party ranks last night. Mr Hoon, a former chief whip, is the epitome of loyalty and is a close friend of Alistair Darling. Why would he, of all people, charge over the top if he knew no-one was going to follow on behind?

There will be plenty of speculation in the days to come, much of it focusing on the events of yesterday afternoon, and the delayed vote of confidence in Mr Brown from his Cabinet.

The coup came amid growing complaints within the Cabinet about the direction in which Mr Brown was taking Labour's election campaign. Did yesterday's events give Cabinet ministers some leverage in changing that strategy? We may find out in the coming weeks.

Whatever the truth of that, the events of yesterday will only serve to weaken Mr Brown's authority even further.

Last night, Foreign Secretary David Miliband issued a statement in which he said he backed not Mr Brown but the "Labour government that he is leading". Fronted by this damaged yet still-standing leader, Labour is facing a miserable few months ahead.