Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock has issued a warning to the party that continued in-fighting risks handing seats to the far-right BNP in next month's European elections.
After a weekend of turmoil at the top of the party, Lord Kinnock urged members to unite behind Prime Minister Gordon Brown.In an interview with The Guardian, he said that talk among discontented MPs of a possible leadership challenge to oust Mr Brown from No 10 was "ludicrous and damaging".
The latest blow to Mr Brown's authority came from Communities Secretary Hazel Blears who slammed the Government's "lamentable failure" to connect with voters in a weekend newspaper article.
She even took a sideswipe at the Prime Minister's notorious YouTube appearance, saying: "YouTube if you want to. But it is no substitute for knocking on doors."
Although she was said to be "horrified" that her comments have been seen as an attack on Mr Brown - and swiftly pledged her "100% support" for his leadership - they fuelled speculation of a possible move against him.
Rebel MPs, such as former ministers Frank Field and Kate Hoey, were already talking openly of a possible challenge if Labour fares badly in the European and local government elections on June 4.
Lord Kinnock, however, said that such talk simply played into the hands of the party's enemies.
"In order to maintain Labour advances like Surestart and investment in health and education we have all got to get behind Gordon. We need to present a united front and not keep in-fighting which will hand victories to the BNP. Discussions of leadership challenges are ludicrous and damaging."
Mr Brown's position had been damaged by a bruising week which saw him suffer his first Commons defeat since becoming Prime Minister in an emotive vote on Gurkha rights, and a further climbdown on reform of MPs' expenses.
Blackpool Gazette
Monday, 4th May 2009
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