What they’re saying about: Labour’s crisis

Despite Labour's disastrous showing in the European elections, last week's torrent of resignations and continued criticisms of his leadership, Gordon Brown has survived to fight another day as Prime Minister.

With MPs unable to find the 70 signatures required to force a leadership contest, the proposed putsch has been aborted, for the time being. But where does this leave Labour, and when will we see the next attempt to replace Brown?

Jonathan Freedland, the Guardian: "Some suspect the anti-Brownites might keep up the Chinese water torture of round-robins and resignations, a drip-drip erosion of the prime minister's authority. Others wonder if they will now retreat, only to re-emerge in time for the party conference - better prepared this time. For this reason, even Brown's closest cabinet allies now say he only has a matter of months to turn things around. If, by the autumn, he can point to the early signs of economic recovery, clean up the expenses mess and make a coherent, ideological case for Labour - one that amounts to a defence of the progressive role of the state - then, they say, he will survive and fight the next general election. If he cannot, he will face another coup attempt - one that even he, with all his years of bloody experience, may not be able to resist.

Andrew Porter, Daily Telegraph: The party conference in September will be the next big flashpoint. Loyalists pointed out during the past week that a change of leader needed a party conference motion to be passed. Another move by the rebels at Brighton would have two advantages. Firstly, the stage would be set for the party to officially remove Mr Brown. Secondly, it would be near enough to the deadline for the next general election next Spring that the new leader may be able to hold out until then without going to the country later this year - no matter the outrage at another unelected leader being foisted on the country.

Andrew Grice, The IndependenT:Other Labour MPs dream that Mr Brown will be able to "turn things round" with a policy blitz. But few really believe it. Despite the despair that they are sleepwalking to defeat under him, the prospect of an early general election under a new leader has scared many of them off. Turkeys do not want an early Christmas, even if they know it will come eventually. So Houdini escapes again, just when his critics had him trapped.

David Aaronovitch, The Times: There is no chance of the electorate or the commentariat giving Mr Brown an opportunity to present a case for change. He ought to recognise this or have it recognised for him by 70 MPs agreeing to sign the nomination forms of a notional challenger. Then the party should hold a leadership contest before the election, in which the Left - as represented by the Compass organisation and Jon "I'm Joe Backbencher" Cruddas - should finally have the courage to stand, as well as continuity candidates such as Alan Johnson and reform candidates such as the Milibands. There would be a series of televised debates and the election would use a new system of regional primaries, in which Labour asks voters to register as party supporters or sympathisers to vote for the candidate of their choice as leader.

James Forsyth, The Spectator: Brown has not had some moment that restores his authority. Instead, he has made the same pledges that he has made before - to set out his vision, to be more inclusive and to call off his bully boys - and they look like they will be enough to buy him a few more weeks. But these pledges won't be met because Brown can't change. (Hands up if anyone thinks we'll make it through the summer without a minister being briefed against by Downing Street). So, soon enough there will be another trigger for a rebellion - defeat in Norwich North or a string of polls with Labour in the teens, say - and the whole show will start all over again. ·