Gordon Brown facing attempted coup as MPs revolt over leadership

Gordon Brown facing attempted coup as MPs revolt over leadership

www.tele graph.co.uk

The Prime Minister was forced to sack Siobhain McDonagh, a junior whip, after she became the first member of his administration to call for a leadership election. She said her call reflected the private concerns of many Labour MPs.

The Daily Telegraph understands that about a dozen Labour MPs, including several former senior ministers, have asked officials to provide nomination papers for a leadership contest at the party’s conference later this month

(visit the link for the full news article)

So far, 5 Labour MPs have called for a leadership contest for a new leader (and Prime Minister.) Another 12 MPs, mainly former ministers from Tony Blair's administration, wrote a joint article criticising Gordon Brown.

The socialist wing of the Labour party jointly condemned the Prime Minister for not providing enough finanical support to poorer households during the current recession.

Skynews and BBC are uncovering a plot to oust the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The coup is rapidly gaining strength, a senior is reported to be prepared to "go public."

www.tele graph.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

Thank you very much for this post, OP

It's music to my ears

Wow! How big could this thing get? How many votes would they need to replace him and what can he do to block it? Can he dissolve the government??

Hmm interesting. This is why you dont elect a guy on one platform that he has. The only reason he was elected is because he said he would get the troops out of Iraq. Not a bad thing I might mention but shouldnt be the only reason. You reap what you sow.

reply to post by mybigunit


Nobody elected him. He was put into the position because he threw a tantrum and no one challenged him after Blair stood down.

posted by mythatsabigprobe
Wow! How big could this thing get? How many votes would they need to replace him and what can he do to block it? Can he dissolve the government?

They need 70 votes to start a leadership bid and no, he cannot dissolve Parliament, he can reshuffle his cabinet but that's it. The Queen can dissolve Parliament though and effectively begin a General Election, but I doubt she will.

[edit on 13/9/08 by stumason]

reply to post by stumason


Thanks Stu. Who do you think would be most likely to win the party leadership and what kind of policy changes could occur? Would the UK still back the US in the WOT?

I predicted in my segments on the AP show that Brown has got until December. Whether I'm right or not remains to be seen, but certainly the knives are out.

Labour are struggling, if they lose the upcoming Scottish By-Election in Glenrothes by anything more than a small majority I think Brown will have to go. As it is Brown will be lucky if he gets through September without a stalking horse opponent coming out to challenge him, intended to draw out the "big hitters"

At the momnet, you could call Charles Clarke (former Home Secretary) anmd David Milliband (Secretary of State) as the two biggest candidates he would be facing.

reply to post by mythatsabigprobe


I have no idea I'm afraid. To be honest, I want him to stay in. If he survives, somehow, to the next Election then Labour will be unelectable and will lose many of their seats.

I dream for that day, when Labour are the size of the Lib Dems and no one cares to listen to their Socialist bull crap that has ruined this country in the past 10 year.

People claim they presided over a strong economy, but they inherited that off the Tories in 1997 and then went on a spending spree with the budget surplus they were left with. Now we pay out £27 Billion a year in interest payments alone as a Nation. God knows how much we actually owe!

And what improvements have we got? The NHS is marginally better, despite tens of billions spent, but the money went on managers to manage managers managing targets. Aside from that, they have done nothing for the British citizens and instead have sold our nation down the river to any tom, dick and harry who wants to come and sponge....

Don't even get me started...

As you can see in my avatar, I effing hate Labour.

Anyway, rant over, sorry.....

I HATE THEM SO MUCH!!!

reply to post by stumason


exactly, englands facing economic hardship soley due to the USA's harsh policies, england needs someone who pulls out of Iraq 100%, invests in oil in Iran and leave the United States to wallow in its inflicted fate.

Joan Ryan, Britain's representative to Cyprus, has been sacked for calling for a leadership contest.

It is rumoured the protagonist in the plot is Geoff Hoon, the Chief Whip, because his position is significant when it comes to rebels. The Chief Whip is the individual who holds regular meetings with Labour MP's.

This plot will intensify if the socialist wing becomes vocal - their cabal makes up about 40 MPs.

reply to post by mythatsabigprobe


Only the Monarch has the Constitutional power to sack a government, nominate a Prime Minister and dissolve Parliament.

In the current 2005-2010 Parliament, we've already had two Prime Ministers (including Gordon Brown) - a third would be a Constitutional mess.

Wow, this is really exciting news for you guys !!!

It seems to me, the English are much more likely to speak out when unhappy about current situations.

I definitely can understand citizens being upset, of course. Many industries in the UK have been deeply hurt, for a while now. More houses are for sale, than are currently selling. Everyone just seems to want to sell at the same time, when no one is buying.

I never understood, maybe someone in England can clarify.... Do you guys get any help from the gov, being a socialist country and all, when you lose your job? Or Is it possible you can lose the HOME that you OWN? I mean, I can't understand what happens in a recession, in a socialist country. I have no idea if the citizens could ever come to a point where they are left to fend for themselves, or even face losing their home in hard times, like the US?

i hope he goes, he has been a proper crap PM.

the guy just has zero charisma!, i dont care what he says as he just doesnt seem to have any conviction.! and the first thing he done was change laws to remove our freedoms.

scince brown has been in charge britain has became more and more like a police state with every thing he seems to touch, jerremy clarkson (bbc top gear) made a really good point, that scince brown has been in charge the country is heading towards the same situation as communist russia in the bad old days.

bring back tony is what i say, he was a good pm, maybe made some mistakes, but at least people listened to him, he had a personality and was a pm i felt did a decent job.

(in reply to teh last post, uk treats their people pretty good, when unemployed we get help with allowances, rent paid ect ect, free healthcare , cant complain really, although scince brown has been in charge they have been talkign about making the unemployed work unpaid jobs for their benefits... another reason that boaring tattie needs to go!)

i dont think we are a socialist country either, they never get enough votes.)

AND BY THE WAY, ITS NOT ENGLAND, THEIR ARE FOUR CONTREYS THAT MAKE UP THE UK, SCOTLAND ENGLAND , NORTHERN IRELAND AND WALES.. I AM FROM SCOTLAND, NOT ENGLAND. (sorry, it really really really really gets my goat when americans class the whole of britain as england!, they are 4 countries ran in 4 different ways with their own governments.)

(i am proud to be british btw, im not onf of these british hating scots.)
[edit on 13-9-2008 by boaby_phet]

[edit on 13-9-2008 by boaby_phet]

Make that seven MPs now:

Fiona Mactaggart - elected 1997, responsibility for the criminal justice system until 2006

Graham Stringer - elected 1997, first to call for Gordon Brown to resign

Joan Ryan - elected 1997, parliamentary under-secretary at Home Office 2006-07

George Howarth - elected 1986, parliamentary roles at Home Office and Northern Ireland, member Privvy Council since 2005

Siobhain McDonagh - elected 1997, ex-PPS to John Reid, and junior whip 2007-08

Gordon Prentice - elected 1992, did not endorse Gordon Brown as party leader

Janet Anderson - elected 1992, former junior whip and ex-under secretary at culture department

wow !! this is really moving on quite fast, when i woke up (11am) their was 3 mp's mentioned on the news that had voiced their opinions.

i really really hope this goes somewhere, or uk is only going to go one way, and thats down the crapper.

[edit on 13-9-2008 by boaby_phet]

reply to post by LostNemesis


Britain is not a socialist country, more liberal than anything.
Repression is up this year - citizens do lose their homes. But we have a council house system (social housing in American terms.)

reply to post by boaby_phet


Make that four different countries, three of which are run their own way and one is left to suffer under central Government and footing the bill....

Another reason why I hate Labour, their royally buggered devolution up big time and it's only because us English are such a placid lot that they have been able to get away with it. Voices are getting stronger now though....

(i'm not anti-devolution or anti-scot, but fairs fair and we've been robbed)

reply to post by stumason


There was a reason why Britain was never federalised and the Act of Union insisted on one single Parliament.

Just been informed, 12 MPs in total now.

[edit on 13-9-2008 by infinite]

John McDonnell, head of the Socialist wing of the Labour has joined the call. This is quite a significant move because if the left rally behind John, he will bring about 20-30 MPs with him.