Left-wing Labour MPs talk up Brown challenge

The stable door is open and the stalking donkeys are already limbering up for a contest. Left-wing MPs tell the Mole that they have already privately discussed running a candidate against Gordon Brown, if Thursday's results for Labour are as bad as expected.

Those being tipped for a possible challenge include John McDonell, the chairman of the Campaign Group of Labour. McDonnell failed to gather enough votes to mount a challenge against Brown last year, when he took the leadership unopposed. But many of those on the left who thought a challenge would be counter-productive, seem to have changed their minds. "McDonnell has the street cred," said one of the Mole's lefty friends, "and he's got links with the unions."

How bad do things have to get before McDonnell or somebody else mounts a challenge? If Boris wins against Ken, the force could be unstoppable.

The left are not so divorced from reality to think McDonnell can win, but they reckon they need to put down a marker, so that others can enter the fray. "There could be an unholy alliance of the left and the Blairites to make sure McDonnell or someone else has enough votes to take it to the party conference," said my leftwing friend.

He would need to get over 80 votes to force a challenge through the party conference this year, but given the mood of despair gripping the Parliamentary Labour Party, it is not entirely impossible. Watch this space on Friday...

THE MOLE: PM UNDER SIEGE

FIRST POSTED APRIL 28, 2008