Blank email heralds hollow leadership test

Some were still snowed in back in their constituencies, unable to reach Westminster, but many others were looking forward to the first Prime Minister's Questions clash of the year when the empty message popped up.

There was little reason to think any more of the strange arrival in their inbox, but at 12.26pm mobile phones and Blackberry devices in the chamber began to buzz as a further email landed which caused a stir across Westminster.

Although rumours had been circulating over the previous 24 hours of a fresh Labour plot to oust the Prime Minister, there was no prior warning of the letter from Mr Hoon and former Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt appealing for a secret ballot over Mr Brown's leadership just weeks before a general election must take place.

"As we move towards a General Election it remains the case that the Parliamentary Labour Party is deeply divided over the question of the leadership," it read.

"Many colleagues have expressed their frustration at the way in which this question is affecting our political performance. We have therefore come to the conclusion that the only way to resolve this issue would be to allow every member to express their view in a secret ballot."

As the pair began a round of broadcast interviews to justify their calls, the big question on everyone's lips was who would come out in support.

Even Government whips – who had been half expecting a challenge – were unsure whether there was a heavyweight supporter waiting to come out, a Cabinet Minister whose decision could be the key to Mr Brown's future.

Regular critics of Mr Brown – the so-called "usual suspects" such as former Home Secretary Charles Clarke, Huddersfield MP and select committee chairman Barry Sheerman, and the Prime Minister's old foe Frank Field – came out to back the Hoon-Hewitt plot but there was barely-contained fury from other backbenchers.

Bassetlaw MP John Mann condemned the "pathetic attempt at a coup", Keighley's Ann Cryer said the duo "must have a death-wish", and Hugh Bayley, MP for the City of York, said the letter was "barking mad". Labour officials attempted to dismiss the idea of a ballot as unconstitutional.

Yet with the letter – which simply asks for MPs to support the ballot, rather than calling for Mr Brown to go – apparently designed to flush out senior Ministers, the response of the Cabinet was surprisingly slow.

Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward was the first to rally, before Mr Brown's closest ally Ed Balls, the Normanton MP and Schools Secretary, dismissed the letter as the latest in a series of "noises off" against the Prime Minister and a warning it would be a "damp squib".

By teatime, Home Secretary Alan Johnson, the Hull West and Hessle MP and a man considered to be a contender to fill Mr Brown's boots if he was forced out, declared him "the best man to lead the Labour Party", and other Yorkshire Cabinet Ministers Ed Miliband and Hilary Benn also gave their support.

As the plot appears to fizzle out, there was backing from two key figures – Business Secretary Peter Mandelson and Chancellor Alistair Darling – although the lack of enthusiasm in their statements was noticeable. So too was the silence emanating from Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Deputy Leader Harriet Harman, meaning the threat could not yet be fully lifted.

Around the corridors of Westminster, however, there was a feeling that another poorly organised attempt to topple the Prime Minister had passed. Even some of his critics now feel that without a single contender around whom the entire party can unite, it is too close to an election to blow open the party's internal divisions.

As Selby MP John Grogan put it: "Most Labour MPs have contemplated whether Gordon is the right person to lead us into the election over the past year, but I think they've made a collective judgement that in what's likely to be an attritional election campaign Gordon is as likely as anyone else to claw back any Tory lead."

COMMONS RIPOSTE OVERSHADOWED

The ballot call took the gloss off what was one of the Prime Minister best performances against David Cameron in the Commons.

In fierce clashes yesterday, he taunted Mr Cameron over apparent confusion over the Tory policy on recognising marriage in the tax system

Mr Cameron told the Prime Minister: "The difference between me and you is this – when I lean across and say 'I love you, darling', I really mean it. The only divorce that's taken place is between you and reality."

But Mr Brown hit back, saying: "For you to talk about love and marriage today, when you are the person who cannot give a straight answer on the married couple's allowance - whether you can say 'I do' or 'I don't' on it."

Full text of letter from two former ministers that shocked westminster

This is the text of the letter sent by Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt to all Labour MPs concerning Gordon Brown's leadership of the party:

"Dear Colleague,

As we move towards a General Election it remains the case that the Parliamentary Labour Party is deeply divided over the question of the leadership. Many colleagues have expressed their frustration at the way in which this question is affecting our political performance. We have therefore come to the conclusion that the only way to resolve this issue would be to allow every member to

express their view in a secret ballot.

This could be done quickly and with minimum disruption to the work of MPs and the Government. Whatever the outcome the whole of the party could then go forward, knowing that this matter had been sorted out once and for all.

Strong supporters of the Prime Minister should have no difficulty in backing this approach.

There is a risk otherwise that the persistent background briefing and grumbling could continue up to and possibly through the election campaign, affecting our ability to concentrate all of our energies on getting our real message across.

Equally those who want change, should they lose such a vote, would be expected by the majority of the PLP to devote all of their efforts to winning the election. The implications of such a vote would be clear – everyone would be bound to support the result.

This is a clear opportunity to finally lay this matter to rest. The continued speculation and uncertainty is allowing our opponents to portray us as dispirited and disunited. It is damaging our ability to set out our strong case to the electorate. It is giving our political opponents an easy target.

In what will inevitably be a difficult and demanding election campaign, we must have a determined and united parliamentary party. It is our job to lead the fight against our political opponents.

We can only do that if we resolve these distractions. We hope that you will support this proposal.

Yours fraternally,

Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt."