London:
Some are calling it Labour's death wish as two former cabinet members challenged Gordon Brown's leadership of the party, asking for an internal secret ballot to choose the next party leader.
With general elections in Britain less than five months away, it's just the sort of news that makes the work of the Opposition Conservative party much easier.
Realising this most, Labour leaders have now come out in support of the Prime Minister.
A tumultuous two and half years as PM, Gordon Brown barely survived a rebellion from his government colleagues last summer. He now faces another challenge in the last lap before the general elections.
Two former ministers have asked for a secret ballot to elect a leader, saying the party was headed for a disastrous defeat under Gordon brown's leadership.
" I have been increasingly concerned by the number of colleagues, members of Parliament in the Labour Party who have really expressed real concerns about the extent to which the party is not getting its message across in what is a general election year simply because of continuing uncertainties about the leadership," said Labour MP Geoff Hoon.
Of course, a divided Labour is music to the Conservatives ears.
" We started the year with a slogan that "we can't go on like this" and it was very noticeable that both Mr Hoon and Ms Hewitt used exactly the same expression. Clearly the Prime Minister has run out of time, has run out of options, and all that awaits him now is a general election," said Eric Pickles, Conservative Party Chairman and MP.
But by the end of the day, most Labour leaders had rallied behind the PM, saying the attack came at the worst possible time.
Brown must hold the elections by June and opinion polls show the Conservatives leading. Even though it seems to have passed, this is one more trouble the PM could have done without.
With general elections in Britain less than five months away, it's just the sort of news that makes the work of the Opposition Conservative party much easier.
Realising this most, Labour leaders have now come out in support of the Prime Minister.
A tumultuous two and half years as PM, Gordon Brown barely survived a rebellion from his government colleagues last summer. He now faces another challenge in the last lap before the general elections.
Two former ministers have asked for a secret ballot to elect a leader, saying the party was headed for a disastrous defeat under Gordon brown's leadership.
" I have been increasingly concerned by the number of colleagues, members of Parliament in the Labour Party who have really expressed real concerns about the extent to which the party is not getting its message across in what is a general election year simply because of continuing uncertainties about the leadership," said Labour MP Geoff Hoon.
Of course, a divided Labour is music to the Conservatives ears.
" We started the year with a slogan that "we can't go on like this" and it was very noticeable that both Mr Hoon and Ms Hewitt used exactly the same expression. Clearly the Prime Minister has run out of time, has run out of options, and all that awaits him now is a general election," said Eric Pickles, Conservative Party Chairman and MP.
But by the end of the day, most Labour leaders had rallied behind the PM, saying the attack came at the worst possible time.
Brown must hold the elections by June and opinion polls show the Conservatives leading. Even though it seems to have passed, this is one more trouble the PM could have done without.
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