Brown ballot 'completely mad' says Kent MP
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by political editor Paul Francis
A call by two former Labour cabinet ministers for a secret
ballot on Gordon Brown’s leadership has been described as
"completely mad" by a Kent backbencher.
Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Derek Wyatt, who is standing down
at the next election, said the call was unnecessary and he disputed
the claim that there were doubts in Labour ranks over whether Mr
Brown should continue.
"It [the ballot] is completely mad. I do not think that you have
a leadership election just when you have launched an election
campaign."
He added that the former defence minister Geoff Hoon and health
secretary Patricia Hewitt were wrong to claim there was unease over
Mr Brown’s leadership.
In a letter, the pair called on Labour MPs to back a secret
ballot to set the matter to rest once and for all.
Mr Wyatt said: "They are wrong. They had a chance to
do this after the local elections when they could have made a
challenge."
That was echoed by Dover MP Gwyn Prosser, who accused the pair
of arrogance and trying to sow the seeds of dissent that would
topple Mr Brown.
He admitted: "It is damaging and they [Hewitt and Hoon] should
know it. Geoff Hoon was chief whip and and has often preached to me
and other backbenchers the virtue of loyalty on issues of
Government policy. It is just arrogance."
He added:
"They are trying to tell us that this is nothing to do with
unseating Gordon and will clear the issue up before the election.
It is doomed to fail."
In their letter, the former cabinet minister write that a ballot
could be done "quickly and with minimum disruption" and would allow
the party to "go forward".
Thanet South MP Dr Steve Ladyman denounced the move, saying the
timing of the letter was ridiculous and warning it risked
demoralising the party.
He said: "I do not think there is a rift and a need to clear the
air. There was a debate about the leadership in the summer and
neither Patricia Hewitt or Geoff Hoon said anything at that time.
If they had back then, I might have a bit more time for them."
He added: "There is no viable alternative to Gordon Brown and
the timing of the letter is quite ridiculous. We have effectively
started the general election campaign and I doubt whether there are
more than half a dozen MPs who think that this is the time for a
leadership election."
The move is a serious blow to Labour as even if the ballot does
not take place it will raise questions over Mr Brown.
Wednesday, January 06 2010
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