Brown sacks Cyprus envoy over leadership call

Joan Ryan was sacked as Gordon Brown’s envoy to Cyprus today after adding her voice to calls for him to face a leadership contest.

Ms Ryan, a Labour vice chairman, said today it was time for the the party’s “direction and leadership” to be debated openly.

She was among a number of usually-loyal MPs urging the party to issue leadership nomination forms ahead of its annual conference, which starts in Manchester next weekend.

Mr Brown was rocked last night when those demands were led by a member of his own government.

Siobhain McDonagh, who said she had never crossed the leadership in 11 years as an MP, was promptly replaced as an assistant whip when her involvement in the apparent plot became known.

A Downing Street spokesman confirmed today that Ms Ryan had been “relieved of her duties” as the British prime minister’s special representative to Cyprus.