UK government crisis deepens - Prime minister’s authority challenged

UK government crisis deepens - Prime minister’s authority challenged
By Jim Pickard, Political Correspondent
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009
Published: June 3 2009 10:38 | Last updated: June 3 2009 18:40
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dc966a98-503b-11de-9530-00144feabdc0.html


Gordon Brown looked increasingly beleaguered on Wednesday following the resignation of a fourth cabinet minister in 24 hours.

When Mr Brown took over as prime minister from Tony Blair in June 2007, opinion polls gave Labour its biggest lead over the opposition Conservative party since before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. But that lead evaporated abruptly in October when, after weeks of speculation, Mr Brown ruled out an early election. Analysts see his indecision as the beginning of his descent in popularity.

By late last year Mr Brown’s handling of the financial crisis seemed to be reviving Labour’s political fortunes but in March 2009 they took a serious knock when the home secretary, already under investigation over her expenses, was forced to apologise for using public money to pay for adult films watched by her husband. Last month the Daily Telegraph newspaper began to publish details of MPs expense claims that have tarnished all the main political parties. However, the opposition Conservatives are seen as having faced up to the issue more effectively

When Hazel Blears, resigned on Tuesday she pre-empted a cabinet reshuffle intended to restore Mr Brown’s authority. Her move further undermined the authority of the prime minister and left the Labour party looking seriously damaged on the eve of European and local elections in which it is expected to receive a drubbing.

Jacqui Smith, the embattled home secretary, also confirmed on Tuesday that she would leave the government in the reshuffle.

Ms Blears and Ms Smith are the highest-profile casualties of the fallout from disclosures about outlandish, taxpayer-funded expenses claims made by members of parliament at a time when recession is forcing hundreds of thousands out of work.

Their departures from the government is the latest in a series of cabinet resignations in recent days.

One junior Labour MP said that Ms Blears’ resignation was the “start of the end game” for the prime minister.

Earlier on Wednesday The Guardian newspaper, a traditional supporter of Labour governments, called for a change of prime minister in an editorial.

However, the process of toppling a Labour leader is complicated and would involve a nationwide poll of party members after the party conference in the autumn. In reality, many critical MPs would rather see the prime minister step down of his own accord, perhaps under pressure from cabinet ministers.

In a turbulent session of prime minister’s questions in the house, David Cameron, leader of the opposition Conservative party, suggested that Ms Blears’ resignation was a “direct challenge” to Mr Brown’s authority, given its timing ahead of Thursday’s elections.

“Why doesn’t the prime minister accept that his ability to command his cabinet has simply disappeared?’”

Mr Brown retaliated by accusing the Tories of refusing to talk about policy and addressing serious issues such as the recession.

Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats party, said there was a sense that “no one is in charge” of the country amid indecision and infighting at the top of the government.

Ms Blears’ career had been in trouble since Mr Brown described her failure to pay capital gains tax on the sale of the property she had designated as her political second home as “completely unacceptable”.

There were unsubstantiated rumours on Wednesday of Labour backbenchers trying to gather signatures to force Mr Brown’s resignation. The process could begin at the weekend when e-mails are likely to be exchanged among MPs.

Additional reporting by Reuters