A SENIOR Merseyside MP has denied being behind a plot to install Justice Secretary Jack Straw as a new Labour Prime Minister, following the party’s shock Glasgow by-election result.
George Howarth, the Knowsley North and Sefton East MP, was forced to deny collecting names for Jack Straw after being fingered as a prime mover in a plot to oust Gordon Brown.
It follows the Daily Post’s exclusive revelation on Saturday that Mr Howarth, a former home office minister and a close ally of Mr Straw, thought the party needed to look at the “question of the leadership of the party”.
He has since said: “Everybody’s got to think long and hard about a number of issues, including policy, the party’s popularity and the leadership.”
But he insisted Mr Straw, who had made it known he wanted colleagues to rally round the PM, was not organising anything.
“Jack is not up to anything. If anyone thinks I am collecting names for him, they are mistaken,” he said.
Yesterday Mr Straw appeared keen to quell any speculation by issuing a public statement.
It read: “I am absolutely convinced that Gordon Brown is the right man to be leading the Labour Party.
“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.”
A source close to Mr Straw said the justice secretary had not sanctioned any collecting of names on his behalf.
“He’s not in favour of that, he’s absolutely convinced Gordon Brown is the right man to be leading the party. If names are being collected it should not be happening.”
Last night senior Labour figures rallied to the defence of Mr Brown, who is currently on a family seaside holiday.
Former deputy prime minister John Prescott warned against a “divisive” leadership challenge and said no potential successor was “anywhere near” capable.
Mr Prescott, in a message to MPs on a Labour supporters’ website, told the party to “take a break from feeding Westminster gossip and hostile press prattle” and concentrate on winning over voters.
Backing the PM to return “refreshed, renewed and ready” after his break, he said a challenge would be “pointless” and would never be forgiven by party members and the public.
“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.”
Deputy Labour Leader Harriet Harman told MPs they should count themselves “very fortunate” to be led by someone of Mr Brown’s experience, adding: “What would be wrong would be to respond to a very big economic challenge by turning it into a political crisis.”
The PM’s position was put under further pressure by a poll which showed Labour in third place among voters in the Tories’ top 30 target constituencies.
davidbartlett
