Two Merseyside MPs demand Gordon Brown fights for job

Sep 13 2008 By Rob Merrick, Liverpool Daily Post

Gordon Brown on visit to Liverpool (320)

TWO Merseyside MPs are among at least 10 Labour MPs demanding that Gordon Brown face a leadership contest, in a potentially fatal blow to the Prime Minister’s future.

George Howarth (Knowsley North and Sefton East) and Frank Field (Birkenhead) have asked for nomination papers to be released in a bid to trigger a challenge, it emerged last night.

Yesterday, one of the 10 – little-known government whip Siobhain McDonagh – was sacked after saying it was time for party members to have their say over the crisis surrounding Mr Brown.

The Prime Minister’s position is not in immediate jeopardy, because it requires 71 Labour MPs – 20% of the Parliamentary party – to demand a contest.

But it is the first time a member of Mr Brown’s government has gone public with a call for a leadership election, creating space for more unhappy Labour MPs to come out of the shadows.

Furthermore, the timing could not be worse for the Prime Minister – little more than a week before Labour’s annual conference where he must deliver a “make or break” speech.

Last night, Mr Howarth said: “MPs, party members and members of the Cabinet are all deeply concerned about the direction we are going in. The best way to clear that up is to have a leadership contest.

“The problem is that people have looked at Gordon and made their mind up – they have stopped listening to what he and the Government have to say.

“I thought the energy measures the Prime Minister announced this week were very good, but is any of that sinking in with people? I don’t think so.”