Brown fights for survival as "cyber coup" looms (News Feature)

By Anna Tomforde Jun 4, 2009, 13:45 GMT

London - The conspirators circling hapless British Prime Minister Gordon Brown are using cyber methods to achieve an old-fashioned coup and rid themselves of an unpopular leader.

In what has been termed the 'cyber coup,' a small group of Labour backbenchers are reported to be ready to circulate an e-mail petition looking for support for their plan to oust Brown.

'Dear Gordon,' says the draft, which starts out praising Brown's 'enormous contribution' during 12 years in government, before coming to the point.

'However...we believe that in the current political situation, you can best serve the interests of the Labour Party by stepping down as Party Leader and Prime Minister.'

Just two years after he inherited the top job in British politics from Tony Blair - following a 13-year wait - Brown is at the centre of a fast-moving plot and a struggle for political survival that has the excitement of a thriller and all the elements of a Greek tragedy.

The plot was triggered, it is widely acknowledged, by fiery red-head Hazel Blears, the cabinet minister who 'plunged the knife' into Brown by quitting her post as Communities Minister just a day before crucial European and local elections Thursday.

The elections, which are expected to prove disastrous for Labour, are certain to be used by voters to pass their verdict on Brown - but also on the damaging scandal over the misuse of parliamentary expenses that has rocked British politics over the past few weeks.

Blears, one of the 101 women who became known as 'Blair Babes' following Labour's 1997 landslide election victory, had reportedly been angered by Brown singling her out for 'totally unacceptable behaviour' in the expenses scandal.

After her shock resignation, the diminutive but energetic minister could be seen sporting a badge saying 'rocking the boat' on her jacket as she travelled to her constituency to return to the 'grassroots where I started.'

'Hell has no fury like a women scorned,' said the Times Thursday, adding that Blears and fellow 'Babes' had got together to prepare their final stand against Brown, by whom they felt they had been 'bullied' and ignored.

If the e-mail petition, expected to be circulated Friday, receives more than 70 signatures from potential Labour rebels, Brown could face a leadership contest later this month and be out of office in early July, the plotters calculate.

But there are also the Brownite loyalists to reckon with, including some top females, who will be ready to support Brown in his determination to stay on, commentators have warned.

They also recall that attempts to gain enough support for someone to stand against Brown - a political heavyweight in Labour Party terms - have failed twice before.

Leading the defence of Brown has been Peter Mandelson, the Business Secretary whom Brown recalled from the European Commission in Brussels in a dramatic surprise move last October.

In a direct and emotional appeal, Mandelson urged Labour Party backbenchers not to sign the letter to topple Brown.

'British politics is in a bad old state, nobody is happy and it's affecting all the parties,' Mandelson said on television.

'Don't please, through your actions, make it any worse for the Labour Party.'

The appeal from a man previously known as the 'Godfather of the Blairite wing' has surprised some observers, and made others wonder whether Mandelson could come to play the Brutus in Brown's Caesar.

As voters go to the polls, and the suspense continues, Brown is said to be working on a major cabinet reshuffle which he hopes will ensure his survival and signal a fresh start.

Success or failure of his 'make-or break' re-design of cabinet is now seen as the crucial test for Brown's authority, according to commentators.

With Blears gone, and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith having announced that she will quit, too, two more key ministers are in the firing line over expenses.

Both Alistair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and long-term Brown ally, and Geoff Hoon, the Transport Secretary, have admitted making 'mistakes' by overclaiming on second homes.

So far, Brown has had little luck in trying to shift either Darling, or Foreign Secretary David Miliband, to the Home Office, political correspondents have reported.

Both ministers have said they want to stay where they are or not be part of the Brown team at all.

'If the reshuffle doesn't work, Brown is finished,' the Independent's political commentator, Steve Richards, said.

'Now, from hour to hour, no one knows quite what will happen next,' he added.