Former home secretary said to be collecting names of MPs in anticipation of a revolt against the PM if Labour does badly in 1 May local elections
By Jane Merrick, Political Editor
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Gordon Brown faces a possible stalking-horse challenge to his leadership orchestrated by his arch-enemy Charles Clarke, it was claimed last night.
The former home secretary is understood to be collecting names of MPs for an emergency contest if Labour performs badly in the 1 May London and local elections.
In the most serious threat so far to the Prime Minister's 10-month leadership, many Labour MPs with seats in the South who stand to lose at the next general election are at the heart of a potential revolt, insiders say. One MP claimed last night that "Charles has the names" needed to trigger a ballot. Either Mr Clarke or another MP with "nothing to lose" would stand as a way of gauging opinion in the Labour Party, the MP added.
While the stalking horse would stand no chance of winning, the scale of support for a contest could cause long-term damage to Mr Brown's leadership and eventually force a more credible challenge before the general election.
There was more bad news for Mr Brown last night as a new poll put the Conservatives on 44 per cent, a 16-year high.
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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/charles-clarke-lines-up-southern-stalking-horses-to-challenge-browns-leadership-808465.html