Matthew Dancona

The Labour leadership plot is brewing

Bits of plaster are already falling off the ceiling over tomorrow’s cover story in the magazine, in which (amongst other things) I reveal a plan to launch a leadership challenge to Gordon Brown if Labour’s performance in the local and European elections is as terrible as the party’s strategists fear.

The idea, as I explain, is for a former Cabinet minister – “probably Charles Clarke” – to test the water and see if he can secure 30 or so signatures from Labour MPs. The plotters are understandably uncertain of their chances and fear (as I make clear) that such a dramatic intervention might be counter-productive, as indeed it might. Nothing is certain, as I say in the piece. But there is absolutely no doubt that such ideas are being actively discussed by senior Labour figures.

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