Labour MPs question Brown’s position

GORDON BROWN yesterday returned to Downing Street amid warnings from Labour MPs that his position as prime minister was becoming increasingly untenable.

Brown flew back to London from his constituency in Scotland, indicating he had not given hope of carrying on in government.

In a defiant email to Labour Party workers thanking them for their efforts in the campaign, Brown said he was determined to fight on to secure his policies for economic recovery.

“My resolve has not, and will not, change. I pledged to do everything in my power to fight for the people of this country – to secure the recovery, to protect their livelihoods and to continue to fight for a future fair for all,” he said.

Brown entered No 10 with his wife, Sarah, and their two sons, just yards away from the cabinet office where the Tories and Liberal Democrats were holding their talks on forming a new government. He was expected to hold talks with key colleagues, including the Business Secretary Peter Mandelson.

However Graham Stringer – long-time critic of Brown – became the third Labour MP since the election to publicly call for Brown to stand down, warning he was losing support in the party.

“I’ve probably spoken to about 15 Labour MPs since the election – some of them who have been very supportive of Gordon over the last three years, some of whom have been closer to my position – and not one of them thinks he should stay on,” he said.

John Mann, who on Saturday became the first Labour MP to call on Brown to go, warned he was now an obstacle to any possible agreement with the Liberal Democrats.

“In the real world, Nick Clegg would be crucified if he propped up Gordon Brown. Gordon Brown’s unpopularity was a key factor in this election. That’s the reality,” he said.

Other Labour MPs said that the party should accept it had lost the election and give up its attempts to hang on to power.

Former minister Malcolm Wicks said the party needed to be “grown up” and “take it on the chin”.

“Any prospect of a Labour government staying in power with support from the Liberals in a ragbag coalition depending on assorted nationalists is I think ridiculous,” he said.

“We have lost. I think we need to accept the logic of this and we need to prepare ourselves for a dignified and principled opposition. It would look very, very shabby for us to be seen hanging on to the doorknob of Number 10.”

Another former minister, George Howarth, said that “the maths” were against Labour being able to form an administration and that Cameron should now be given his chance.

“I think the proper thing is for the Conservatives to form a government, for us to be the Opposition – and be in opposition in a constructive way.”