The shambolic state of our Labour Government.

I seems that yesterday's attempt to get rid of Gordon Brown was a failure not because of why or when it was done, but rather how it was done. It can almost certainly be said that it came pretty close to succeeding. Six cabinet ministers were waiting to see which way the wind was blowing before making their move. If just one of the six had shown the slightest indication of supporting the coup, then it would have (excuse the pun) snowballed.

Channel 4's Gary Gibbon writes:

One of the plotters tells me there were indeed 6 Cabinet Ministers who were ready to jump – there was, I was told, “an expectation not an understanding, something stronger than an impression” that in the right circumstances they would act. (This plotter estimates the Cabinet is made up of 4 or 5 diehard loyalists to Gordon Brown, 2 neutrals and the rest had various degrees of hostility and criticism.) Full Article

What a state for a government to be in. 4 or 5 supporters? We are being governed by a lie. When the vast majority of Brown's cabinet want to see the back of him, how can they ever hope to run the country?

The Telegraphs James Kirkup writes:

One Labour rebel said: “There is no question that Harriet put Patricia up to this. Patricia clearly thought that if she moved, Harriet would come out in support. Then it didn’t happen.”

A Government source said: “Her fingerprints are on this. She might have backed down in the end, but she was clearly involved.”

Miss Harman is understood to have held a 45-minute meeting in No 10 with Mr Brown at around 4pm on Wednesday. Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, was also present.

Both Cabinet ministers are said to have made clear that they shared the doubts expressed in the Hoon-Hewitt letter about Mr Brown’s presentation of the Government strategy and overall performance as a political communicator.

The Prime Minister assured both Miss Harman and Mr Straw that he would listen to criticism and improve his performance.

The assurance was just enough to persuade Miss Harman not to give any public support to the coup, and she eventually issued a terse statement that ministers are “united in our determination to do what's best for the country, which is for Labour, led by Gordon Brown, to win the general election."

It's good news for the Conservative party that the coup failed, but bad news for the country (and his own party) that we have to endure another four months of Gordon Brown.