The demands of MPs wanting the chance to challenge Gordon Brown as Labour Party leader will be discussed at a meeting later.
The meeting of the party's National Executive Committee at Westminster is likely to discuss arrangements for the annual conference of the party, which begins in Manchester on Saturday.
But rebels also want the NEC to rule that nomination papers for a successor to Mr Brown be sent out to all Labour MPs ahead of the conference.
The NEC is expected to make a final decision on the issue.
The meeting comes as it was reported that an unnamed minister was close to resigning over his concerns about the Prime Minister's leadership.
The report quoted the minister of state as saying: "There just comes a point where you say, 'I just can't go on lying' you can't go on saying, 'I think Gordon Brown is the man to lead us to victory' when you don't believe it."
The Prime Minister will chair a special political discussion of the Cabinet, the first one in Downing Street since MPs broke up for the summer.
Like the NEC meeting, issues relating to the upcoming conference will be discussed, but it is likely Mr Brown's political difficulties will be mentioned as well.
The Premier faced further challenges to his authority when former minister George Howarth insisted that the party would "emerge stronger" from a leadership contest.
And Labour MP Barry Gardiner was axed as the Prime Minister's special envoy on forestry after joining other backbenchers in asking for nomination papers.
His removal followed the sacking of junior whip Siobhain McDonagh and party vice chairman Joan Ryan after they questioned Mr Brown's leadership.
A contest to replace Mr Brown could be triggered if 70 MPs - 20 per cent of the Parliamentary Labour Party - submit nominations.
"To be born English is to win first prize in the lottery of life"
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment