Scottish dictator rules England

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown, wrestling with an economic downturn and political woes, faced a new challenge on Friday when a member of his government called for a leadership election in the Labour Party.

Siobhain McDonagh, one of the whips responsible for making sure Labour members toe the government line in parliamentary votes, said a leadership election was needed to debate the direction of the party after 11 years in power.

Brown responded quickly by firing her from the post.

Brown, who took over as prime minister from Tony Blair less than 15 months ago, has faced growing disenchantment over his leadership as the credit crunch has hit the economy while rising energy and food prices squeeze families' budgets.

But it is the first time that a member of the government, even a junior one like McDonagh, has publicly called for a leadership contest.

"I think we need a leadership election. I think anybody who wants to stand should stand and we should have a discussion about what direction should the party be going in," McDonagh told the BBC.

The revolt came at a crucial time, just over a week before the Labour Party faithful gather for the party's annual conference in Manchester when Brown's leadership could come under fire.

A Labour Party source said McDonagh and a number of other Labour legislators, fewer than 10, had asked for papers to be sent out needed to launch a leadership contest.

That suggests Brown could face a challenge to his leadership at the Labour conference, although the support of about 70 Labour legislators is needed as the first step to triggering a contest at the conference.

NEED TO CLEAR THE AIR

McDonagh said she had nobody in mind as a possible alternative leader to Brown, but said there was a need to "clear the air".

While not openly criticising Brown, she said: "I think Gordon Brown is a really good man who has the best of intentions. I just think that being prime minister is a shockingly hard job."

McDonagh, who said she had never voted against the government in 11 years in parliament, said she believed a "huge number" of Labour legislators wanted a leadership election.

A year ago, Brown led in the polls but as Britain's economic woes have mounted, Labour has slumped and now lags the opposition Conservatives by about 20 points. He does not have to call a general election until mid-2010.

The Conservatives called for an early general election, saying McDonagh's call showed the Labour Party was degenerating into civil war.

"At a time when Britain faces massive economic challenges it is profoundly damaging to have a government in such disarray," Conservative politician Chris Grayling said.


"To be born English is to win first prize in the lottery of life"