On another tough day for the PM, Marc Waddington and Rob Merrick report on events in Liverpool and at Whitehall
JANE KENNEDY has revealed Gordon Brown’s “macho politics” and “character assassination” tactics were partly behind her decision to quit his government.
Mrs Kennedy announced she would relinquish her role as environment minister, joining the likes of James Purnell and Caroline Flint in condemning the Prime Minister’s leadership.
The Wavertree MP said she believed Mr Brown’s style was “ebbing away” Labour’s support.
But the plot to topple Mr Brown was declared a failure last night after he survived a showdown with his MPs.
Allies of the beleaguered Prime Minister insisted the revolt fizzled out after most backbench-ers rallied around, giving him their backing at a stormy meeting of the Parliamentary Labour party.
Speaking to the Daily Post ahead of the meeting, Mrs Kennedy said the “shattering losses” suffered at the European elections further undermined his leadership.
She added: “It really only became clear to me I would have to do something when it became clear how badly the election was going to go, although in Liverpool we had a better result.
“What I know from people in Liverpool is they want a Labour government to continue, but it is very difficult to imagine Gordon Brown leading us to victory at the next general election.
“I can only do what I feel is right. If you are in the Government, there is the expectation you will support the Prime Minister who appoints you and I realised I cannot do that.”
Mrs Kennedy said many MPs were “sick and tired” of the “negative politics” she claimed Mr Brown promotes inside and outside Westminster.
She added: “We need to keep up the good work we are doing, but at the moment, the public are not listening to the main person delivering that message.
“It is partly to do with the way he conducts politics. I think a lot of people have been very turned off by the macho style of bullying politics he exhibits.”
Asked to describe Mr Brown’s style of leadership in one sentence, she said: “Character assassination orchestrated by Number 10.”
