Brown’s battle for survival

Brown’s battle for survival

Just after 11 on Thursday night, they were dusting off Gordon Brown’s political obituary.  To lose  four government ministers in three days was deemed careless, but to have one openly challenge whether he could ever win an election was considered to be politically fatal.

Rising star James Purnell, mentioned in some places as a possible future Prime Minister himself, resigned from the cabinet and in a letter which made it’s way to the newspapers in time for their press deadlines, he urged Gordon Brown to the same.   

Finally after weeks of grumbling and private conversations, it appeared there was a leading figure in the ruling Labour Party ready to say what many were thinking.

In the hours that followed, Gordon Brown has never been more vulnerable.  If two or three senior figures made the same noises, it was clear, his time in charge would be over.  Instead, two potential leadership candidates rushed out statements making clear they supported Gordon Brown.  The British Foreign Minister, David Miliband was thought to be the man Purnell was keen to see run, but he swung his support behind the Prime Minister.  Alan Johnstone who has been loyal when his name has been touted as the next leader did the same.  And that was enough to save Gordon Brown for now.

He’s had a torrid time.  His popularity is at an historic low, Labour has failed incredibly badly in local elections in the Uk and is expected to do appallingly in the European Parliament elections and some MPs were thought to be ciruclating an email calling for him to go

Yet, he’s managed to beat off all those potential threats and hold on to the UK’s top job.  Speaking to those who gathered on the green outside parliament in the last few hours, they don’t believe it will last.  They think that the next crisis is just around the corner, and his position will be under threat again.

One MP privately confided that James Purnell misjudged the mood of those who could really do damage to Gordon Brown, that most were ready to give him one final chance to send Labour’s political fortunes in the right direction.

Gordon Brown may discover that there are no more last chances.