Former minister Nick Brown, a close ally of the chancellor Gordon Brown, has given a less than ringing endorsement of Tony Blair's chances of rallying Labour in the event of heavy losses in the local elections.
Speaking on the BBC 1's Election Night, Mr Brown said he didn't know whether the prime minister could repair the damage done to the government but he would have to "try". The MP said: "We can't drift on. It's pretty clear what's gone wrong and we need to address it." When later asked whether he would sign a letter reportedly being prepared by Labour backbenchers calling for the prime minister to resign, he replied "probably not".
Meanwhile another troubled cabinet minister, culture secretary Tessa Jowell, has apologised to Labour Party activists in London who felt they had been let down by her Cabinet colleagues over the past fortnight. Ms Jowell, who led Labour's campaign in London, told Sky News: "I don't think we are going to do very well." The BBC are now suggesting Labour could lose overall control of Ealing council, on top of the predicted loss of Hammersmith and Fulham to the Conservatives. And the BNP is predicted to take 8-10 seats in Barking and Dagenham.
