MPs urge Miliband and Johnson to stand for top job

Jun 4 2009 by William Green, The Journal

DESPAIRING Labour MPs are urging David Miliband and Alan Johnson to stand for the party leadership.

Speaking to The Journal, a veteran backbencher said “people have been talking” with the two Cabinet Ministers about entering any future leadership battle.

The Labour MP added it was “highly probable” the Prime Minister will face a leadership challenge.

Another backbencher questioned if Mr Brown could survive disastrous election results expected today, saying: “I don’t think he is safe.

“If we are talking about 15 to 18% [of the vote], I don’t know how he will survive that. But it is possible he can because he is that sort of person.

“He will have to do an awful lot of more than he is at the moment to stay there.”