Brown and Labour braced for poll disaster

VOTES were cast yesterday in European and council elections that could prove critical to Gordon Brown’s future as prime minister.

Eve-of-election polling suggested Labour was heading for disastrous results with the party registering just 16% of the vote – behind even the UK Independence Party (Ukip).

Such a poor showing would increase the pressure on Brown, already reeling from ministerial resignations and fending off a backbench plot to oust him.