Henley humiliation makes early reshuffle likely

Gordon Brown is holding back the only weapon he has left to revive the Government - a reshuffle - until the autumn, but he could be forced to bring it forward after humiliation at Henley.

Brown is being urged to get rid of under-performing ministers such as Alistair Darling, the Chancellor, and his Scottish friend Des Browne, who wears two hats as Defence Secretary and Scottish Secretary.

The Prime Minister has told his allies that he won't be reshuffling the pack for some months. His last reshuffle - brought about by the resignation of Peter Hain - brought the young stars to the fore, with James Purnell, Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper, wife of Ed Balls, given Cabinet promotion.

So far, they too have under-performed. Brown's problem is that there are few obvious candidates to shove into the Cabinet to give him some clout. That is why there has been speculation that he could bring back big hitters such as Alan Milburn and Charles Clarke.

It is unlikely that they will want to rejoin the sinking ship. And with panic spreading like scurvy in the crew, the skipper is the one who is at risk from a full-blown mutiny in the autumn.

The Henley result, where Labour came an ignominious fifth after the far-right BNP, marked a new low point for Brown, from which many believe there is no way back.

Labour's MP for Stroud, David Drew said: "There's no point doing the job when you are not enjoying it and it's all too hard. He's got to look at himself. He's got to make that decision."

Alan Simpson, a leading voice in the Campaign Group of Labour MPs, said: "How low can we go? There has got to be a change of direction otherwise we will be looking for a change of leader by the end of the year."

There is a grim joke circulating among Labour MPs: "What is the difference between Robert Mugabe and Gordon Brown?"

Answer: "Mugabe was elected."

THE MOLE: HENLEY DEBACLE

FIRST POSTED JUNE 27, 2008