Brown backers slam critics

Last Modified: 12 May 2008
Source: ITN

Supporters of Prime Minister Gordon Brown have accused his critics of "putting the knife in" as a senior Labour MP predicted he would be ditched as party leader before the next election.

Former minister Frank Field, who has led the backbench revolt over the abolition of the 10p income tax rate, said he would be "very surprised" if Mr Brown was still in charge at the time of the General Election, expected in 2010.

Mr Field said Mr Brown faces a backbench rebellion which will block the Budget and make his position "intolerable" unless he reassures MPs over the impact of the tax change on the lowest paid.

He said the next election would almost certainly be at the latest possible opportunity in two years' time.

"I would be very surprised if he's still the leader of the Labour Party then and therefore leading us into the election campaign," said Mr Field.

He said the removal of the 10p rate, announced by Mr Brown in his last Budget as Chancellor in 2007 but coming into effect in this year's Finance Bill, had caused greater anger on the Labour backbenches than he had ever previously seen.

"If we don't get a satisfactory deal, I think there's enough members on the Labour backbenches who will, with others, block the Budget going through," he said.

"That will make his position intolerable at that stage."

His comments, following a welter of personal criticism of Mr Brown over the weekend, prompted Health Secretary Alan Johnson to acknowledge the "knives are coming out".

The exchange comes as Mr Brown tries to stage a fightback after damaging disclosures in the memoirs of Cherie Blair, John Prescott and Tony Blair's former fundraiser, Lord Levy.

Mr Johnson voiced frustration that the political agenda was being dominated by the "character assassination" of the Prime Minister.

"What the public are concerned about is now, all these knives coming out," he said.

"I'm not a great Brown fan club leader but I respect him as a really, really decent, good, able politician. Is he perfect? No, he's not, nor is anybody else in the world.

"But can't we just set this true confessions stuff to one side?

"Some people see an opportunity to put the knife into somebody they don't like."

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