The Glenrothes By-election 2008

'According to the Telegraph, David Cairns, the minister of state at the Scotland Office, is also set to walk out over the party's refusal to hold a leadership election.' Daily Mail Reporter in the Daily Mail, 16 th September 2008.

Cabinet minister 'ready to quit over by-election' as Labour plotters plan conference showdown

By Daily Mail Reporter in the Daily Mail, 16 th September 2008

Rumours swept Westminster today that a Cabinet minister is planning to resign if Gordon Brown loses the Glenrothes by-election.

Labour insiders believe a dissident will walk out in an attempt to topple the Prime Minister in the wake of a defeat in the safe seat.

Another day of turmoil yesterday saw more former ministers publicly call for a contest and rumours sweep Westminster of high profile resignations in an attempt to oust the Prime Minister.

But a Cabinet-level resignation would be far more dangerous.

'My guess is that in the few days after Glenrothes, if Labour lose, a senior member of the Cabinet will resign and challenge Gordon," a party source told the Daily Record.

According to the Telegraph, David Cairns, the minister of state at the Scotland Office, is also set to walk out over the party's refusal to hold a leadership election.

Rebel MPs will today try to force a leadership showdown at Labour's annual conference - as Cabinet ministers made clear they have put Gordon Brown on notice.

The plotters, emboldened by behind the scenes backing for their coup, will today effectively demand a confidence vote in Mr Brown next week.

It comes as Cabinet support for the Premier begins to ebb away as senior ministers made clear he has just weeks to rescue his leadership.

However, former foreign secretary and Labour grandee Margaret Beckett warned the conspirators to back off, claiming they would wreck the party.

On Sunday ministers led by Business Secretary John Hutton showed lukewarm support for Mr Brown and made clear they were unwilling to criticise the rebellion.

Overnight and during yesterday it became clear that their hesitance and qualified language was far more significant.

Mr Hutton said things had to improve within 'weeks', while Geoff Hoon, the chief whip, said only that a leadership contest was inappropriate 'at this stage'.

And privately senior figures warned a crisis was increasingly inevitable if the Prime Minister failed to restore confidence in his ability to renew Labour's fortunes.

hey said he had to show he can answer his critics in his speech to Labour conference next Tuesday and by leading his party to victory in the Glenrothes by-election.

'Our support is now time limited,' one Cabinet minister told the Mail. 'The current situation is unsustainable.' Another source said: 'The Cabinet is beginning to put Gordon on notice.'

Their concern is that party infighting is damaging not just to Labour but to the country because it means the Government is distracted from its duties at a time of international turmoil.

A number of junior ministers are known to be considering staging resignations as a way of increasing the pressure on Mr Brown. But one said last night the most likely time for such a high-profile move will be when the Commons returns in Octoberfollowing the outcome of the Glenrothes by-election.

Last night it emerged that Mr Brown's enemies have organised a 'grid' of public statements designed to increase the pressure on the Prime Minister.

Rebels, led by former whip Siobhain McDonagh, have been allocated dates to make public statements calling for a leadership contest.

Several ministers have been approached this week and asked to consider quitting. But despite speculation that at least three remain ready to quit, no one seemed willing to come forward.

Last night, former home secretary Charles Clarke further ramped up the pressure on Mr Brown by criticising his ' indecision' and issuing a call to arms to Labour rebels.

In an article for the Labour conference edition of House magazine, he writes that the party had to regain support by 'facing up to our failures'.

Former health minister Gisela Stuart also broke ranks in the same publiction, criticising Government policies on terrorism and the EU.

Mr Brown's spokesman insisted the PM was not being distracted by the speculation about his future. '[He] is concentrating on issues that matterÊ -Ê the situation in the economy, what is happening in the financial markets, Northern Ireland and crime,' he said.