UK NEWS
BROWN RALLIES LABOUR AS FAILED COUP DAMAGES POLLS
Gordon Brown has called a meeting at Downing Street
By Nicola McCafferty for Express.co.uk
GORDON Brown will today flex his muscles and mobilise his Cabinet by handing out key election campaign roles in an attempt to claw back control in the wake of the failed putsch.
Gordon Brown has summoned his Cabinet to Downing Street to quickly dish out election campaign roles to undermine the Tories, in a last-ditch effort to rally support from his discontented backbenchers.
Yet the Premier's election strategy has hit another snag today, as a new poll exposed the fall-out from the attempted coup has sent Labour crashing in the polls.
DEBATE: SHOULD LABOUR DUMP GORDON BROWN BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION
|
|
David Miliband, Alan Johnson, Jack Straw and Peter Mandelson at Downing Street today
|
POLL: HOW WILL YOU VOTE IN THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION?
Mr Brown yesterday shrugged off the revolt - which saw ex-ministers call for a secret ballot on his leadership - as a "storm in a teacup," but bungling Labour plotters have handed the Tories a 12-point lead in the election race.
A YouGov poll revealed Labour is on 30 per cent, while David Cameron's popularity has soared nine per cent to 12 per cent. The Liberal Democrats have slipped to 16 per cent.
YouGov's Peter Kellner confirmed the figures were a devastating blow to Mr Brown, telling a tabloid newspaper: "These findings prove the leadership coup has been very damaging for Labour."
|
It's a storm in a teacup
|
Gordon Brown on the failed coup
|
The news means if an election was called tomorrow, the Tories would be backed by 42 per cent of Britons.
The latest poll figures will undoubtedly bolster the Premier's call-to-action speech with his Cabinet today, as he hopes to quash some of the Party's unease by laying-out key strategies for the next few months.
Yet the failed putsch - led by former ministers Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt - has renewed intense speculation over the support he enjoys among senior colleagues.
Many of Brown's senior colleagues faced criticism over their slow response to yesterday’s plot and their apparently lukewarm expressions of support for the PM in the immediate aftermath.
Foreign Secretary Mr Miliband - seen by many as a potential successor - was the last to declare his backing, almost seven hours after news of the threat to Mr Brown’s leadership broke.
He was among six ministers who have all denied a report that they had offered tacit backing to the rebellion led by former cabinet ministers Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt.
The regular weekly meeting was postponed from Tuesday to coincide with a planned regional tour of the south-west which was later cancelled because of the weather.
It comes as Mr Hoon faces local party bosses in his Nottinghamshire constituency over the bid to force a secret ballot of Labour MPs and peers on Mr Brown’s leadership.
|
|
Former ministers Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon were the ringleaders of the plot
|
Activists were said by John Knight, the leader of Ashfield District Council, to be “shocked and disappointed” at his involvement and keen to pose “pertinent questions”.
The MP is due at a regular meeting of the constituency party’s general management committee.
Mr Miliband beefed up his support for the PM yesterday as he insisted no ministers had been involved in the attempt to remove Mr Brown.
“We have got an election to fight, Gordon is leading us into it, we are determined to win it, under his leadership, and I am looking forward to getting stuck into it,” he said.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw dismissed the claim that he would have been prepared to move against Mr Brown and said colleagues had no inkling of the plot.
It was unclear whether Commons Leader Harriet Harman, another of those forced to deny involvement, would be able to attend the whole of the Cabinet meeting.
Labour’s deputy leader is also due to appear at nearby City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court at 10am, an hour after the scheduled start, accused of driving carelessly while using her phone.
The MP for Camberwell and Peckham, who is not legally obliged to attend the hearing, was at the centre of a police inquiry after she was allegedly involved in a minor collision with a parked car.
A spokeswoman for Ms Harman, who denies the allegation, refused to discuss her plans.
BROWN RALLIES LABOUR AS FAILED COUP DAMAGES POLLS
08.01.10, 8:25pm
Hopefully after the election, Brown's only future will be in retirement. I never liked Harold Wilson but he stood head and shoulders over Brown.
• Posted by: Mike_JC • Report Comment
JOHN FROM WILTSHIRE... WHEREVER, HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY FORGET !
08.01.10, 8:08pm
John Whom ?
This John Whom, how could you forget ! after all you helped pay for it !
Home News News Topics MPs' expensesGeoff Hoon's property empire built on taxpayers' money: MPs' expenses
Geoff Hoon has established a property empire worth £1.7 million after claiming taxpayer-funded expenses for at least two properties.
By Robert Winnett, Deputy Political Editor
Published: 8:30AM BST 08 May 2009
Geoff Hoon has claimed for at least two properties Photo: REUTERS
During his time as Defence Secretary and Leader of the House, Mr Hoon lived in a grace-and-favour apartment in Whitehall yet claimed costs for his home in Derbyshire.
Within months of losing his grace-and-favour apartment in 2006, Mr Hoon bought a new London townhouse. He then claimed that his Derbyshire home was his main property and designated the new house as his “second home”. This allowed him to fund the London property using the expenses system.
Related Articles
Geoff Hoon's expenses 2004-05
Geoff Hoon's expenses 2005-06
Geoff Hoon's expenses 2006-07
Geoff Hoon's expenses 2007-08
MPs' expenses: Geoff Hoon's response
Purnell and Hoon avoided tax on home sales He now stands accused of exploiting the system by switching properties on his parliamentary declaration, enabling him to claim close to the maximum allowable amount most years. This is how he took advantage of the system:
At his Derbyshire family home between 2004 and 2006, Mr Hoon claimed thousands of pounds for renovations and refurbishments. In that time he redecorated and re-carpeted the property, which he has owned since 1986, and claimed for regular visits to DIY stores.
In 2005, Mr Hoon attempted to claim £1,199 for an LCD television — only to be told by the parliamentary authorities that he would receive a maximum of £750.
It can be disclosed that the property has a mortgage worth only £30,000 — costing less than £300 a month. However, during the 2004-05 financial year, Mr Hoon recouped £20,902 from the taxpayer for the property — the absolute maximum allowable. The then Defence Secretary regularly claimed £400 a month for groceries consumed at the Derbyshire home. The taxpayer also picked up his gardening and cleaning bills.
" Ever felt like you have been had ? "
• Posted by: Harri_if_hipphopper_wants_a_date_just_ask • Report Comment
STORM
08.01.10, 6:54pm
Now why does this seem like a bot of good old fashioned Labour spin to me?
The rebels !!!
Geof Whom and whats her name. Some one once said to me. The only reason anyone would follow this man, is out of idle curiosity!
Can anyone name a ministry when he succeeded?
• Posted by: JohnFromLincolnshire • Report Comment
HEADS YOU WIN . . TAILS YOU . . ?
08.01.10, 4:35pm
This about sums up the Brown situation. The Labour rank and file cannot stand Gordon Brown. But they cannot stand the thought of their losing their seats and, for many, their jobs together with the perks that go with it. On the one hand they want him to win to preserve the job that they have strived to keep and bitten their tongues since Brown stepped into the PM's shoes. On the other hand they are at war with themselves in that they fear Brown has got it all wrong - which he has - leading to a leadership election while Labour is in power, knowing that the country would never stand for another "shoe-in PM." And who would put his or her name forward knowing that they would be on a hiding to nothing for ever if they did? Labour MP's, Ministers and Brown are in what is called a "loose / loose" situation. And they know it. I bet there will be a long pacing of the bedroom carpets in the next few weeks and many a visit to the local off-licence or doctor for "something" to keep them sane. Thankfully I am retired; have a few shillings in the bank, and only take the odd glass of Scottish single malt for pleasure. Cheers!
• Posted by: albert9rn • Report Comment
LABOUR DESERVE BROWN,MADE FOR EACH OTHER.
08.01.10, 4:17pm
As Chancellor for ten years and PM for two,it's only proper that this Water Walker should continue.After June he will probably get e well paid job doing nothing at the I.M.F.So he when the credit runs out there is one last resort the I.M.F. Sweat it out Brown and good on the backbench Labour fiddlers for keeping him.P.S. I have not been wrong so far.
• Posted by: Mudds • Report Comment
FLEXING MUSCLES AND UNSHEATING CLAWS, DAILY EXPRESS, IS THIS WHAT THE COMING ELECTION IS ALL ABOUT?
08.01.10, 3:40pm
Echoes of the dirty campaigns run in the US ...
"Clawing back" is not an expression that inspires confidence in anything.
And how do you flex muscles that you have demonstrated to be non-existent for so long?
• Posted by: Shenandoah • Report Comment
To view all 'Have Your Say' comments, click this button...