Angry Labour MPs want Brown to go

A vote of no confidence in Gordon Brown's leadership is being demanded by some Labour MPs, in the face of his insistence that he will not stand down before the general election.

Having told Andrew Marr on BBC TV yesterday that he wouldn't go, he reiterated it this morning on the Today programme, saying he will respond to public anger over the expenses scandal by setting up a National Council for Democratic Renewal.

But that hasn't impressed Labour backbenchers who say they are heading for a catastrophic defeat at the next general election, unless they can force him out and replace him with Alan Johnson.

The Mole hears some Labour MPs are going to judge the mood at tonight's Parliamentary Labour Party meeting before putting their heads above the parapet. But they are saying privately they have had enough excuses from Brown.

After the crop of weekend polls giving Labour its lowest showing since records began, they are furious that he is determined to cling to office, regardless of the disaster he will inflict on the party. Echoing Charles Clarke's controversial remarks recently, one Labour MP said: "I feel ashamed to be a member of this party under Brown after the [Damian] McBride affair.

"Now he is riding rough-shod over the backbench. There's one law for people like David Chaytor and Elliot Morley [among the 12 MPs who have announced they will step down] and another law for ministers. Why haven't Tony McNulty and Jacqui Smith been told they have to step down?"

In a further example of double standards for ministers and backbenchers, Brown has defended Alistair Darling over 'flipping' his houses four times to avoid capital gains tax. Brown said there was 'no substance' to the claims. In spite of speculation that Darling will be axed in a reshuffle this week, Brown said: "He is a very good Chancellor, a very good colleague, and friend."

The Daily Mail is also reporting that the "vultures are circling" around Brown, quoting one senior Labour MP saying: "I am going to do all I can to undermine him. I want Gordon Brown out."

"I have got to get on with the job," the PM told Today listeners. "Every morning, I get up and I look at what people want to see... they want to know someone is taking this country through the economic downturn."

Asked about the calls for Johnson to replace him, Brown added: "I am staying on to do the job I need to do. I am not arrogant or unwilling to listen to people but I do believe people want us to get through this economic downturn."

As the Mole posted last week, Jack Straw has made it clear he won't be the one to tell Brown to go. And Blairites have despaired of Lord Mandelson doing anything to oust Brown.

Defiant backbenchers have huffed and puffed before about a no confidence vote, and nothing has happened because they lacked the nerve. Now, they just might be angry enough to have a go. ·