Unconfirmed, Guido is checking – a source has just phoned, claiming to be at the drinks reception for North West Labour Party parliamentary researchers, where James Purnell has just told them that, if no credible candidate comes forward by noon tomorrow, he himself will stand..

You read it here first…

UPDATE 18.54 : Have just texted Purnell, no response.  Can’t get hold of his former SpAd either.

UPDATE 20.27 : Looks like this will stay exclusive, Guido got punked, guess we will know for sure soon.  Never wrong for long…

This morning at a breakfast briefing seminar held at the City offices of corporate lobbyists Hanover Communications, Kevin Maguire was the star turn giving the assembled spin-doctors and fee paying clients the benefit of his insight derived from his years of service to Gordon Brown and Damian McBride, the former Downing Street press adviser, who was Kevin’s long time drinking partner.

When the cappuccino supping Maguire was asked by one of the croissant chewing seminar participants if there was any possible way Gordon Brown could win the general election his smirking reply was:

“The only way Gordon Brown can win the general election is if Madeleine McCann’s body is found in David Cameron’s garage.”

Kevin has previous for this sort of tasteless innuendo – he was the key source for the Smeargate stories that were intended to be used by Damian McBride, Derek Draper and Charlie Whelan to smear David Cameron, George Osborne’s wife and other leading Tories.   The sheer hypocrisy of Kevin Maguire is breathtaking.  He talks down to the readers of the Mirror, telling them Gordon can win while at the same time telling high powered corporate insiders that Brown is finished. The Mirror was at the forefront of the campaign to find Maddy, Maguire just thinks it is a joke.

When Guido contacted our Kev’ this afternoon he made no effort to apologise or express any regret.

A poll last year said Labour would do better under Blair.  Another poll by YouGov shows that Labour voters would prefer Blair as leader again.  Miliband was right…

Frank Field has just blogged this

Labour cannot win with the present Prime Minister. I was one of the seven who would not support his coronation after Tony Blair was shoehorned out of Number 10. But even I didn’t think a Brown administration would be as inept as this one.

The Brownites are attempting to terrorise Labour MPs into inaction. If they succeed then we deserve our fate.

It is simply absurd to argue, as does No. 10, that the next leader must call an immediate general election. A new leader, when being invited by the Queen to form a government, should inform the Monarch that he or she intends to return in April of next year to call for a General Election on May 6.

Frank has shown some spunk, how many more will follow?

Smeargate was the final straw for Jane Kennedy she says

I’ve been unhappy for sometime about smears against colleagues, about the undermining of colleagues and friends orchestrated by Number 10. I can’t support it and I believe the Labour Party is part of reason for the rejection that people have indicated, and it’s a rejection of that kind of politics. I can’t distinguish between those around Gordon Brown smearing and Gordon Brown himself. It’s how politics is driven forward by Gordon and the people around him.

I fought against Militant in the 1980s and helped the Labour Party drive them out, because I was applled at their conduct: the bullying, the threats and the intimidation. I can’t stand by and say I am content when that is still happening. Everybody who is active in politics in Westminster knows what I’m alluding to.

We’ve never had the chance as a PLP to discuss the matters that arose out of the Damian McBride incident. My view is – and the view of many activists in my constituency – Gordon isn’t able to get our message across. That’s why voters are turning against us – his style, the type of politics he engages. My unhappiness is with the style of politics that Labour is exhibiting.

The bullying continues, Guido understands that the implicit menace being put about by Nick Brown, chief whip and Gordon’s enforcer, is exposure of expense misdemeanours in a career ending manner if you are disloyal. That is how they work, McBride may be gone, but his spirit lives on. Gordon operates like a mafia godfather, thuggish and threatening. The people have rejected him, will the party find a spine? Why is it only Labour’s women who have the balls to stand up to him?

Minister for Farming and the Environment.  Another Woman Against Gordon…

UPDATE : Did she go or was she pushed?  Seems she was going, Gordon called to give her the hair dryer treatment / beg / demand loyalty. She refused so he sacked her / she was going anyway. Or possibly Gordon’s people first said they sacked her to put the frighteners on people, then they realised that played badly and admitted she resigned. They never could govern that well, now they can’t even spin properly.

UPDATE 11.40 : Sally Keeble, a Labour MP who is as low profile as she is loyal has just told the BBC “Gordon said he wanted more time, but there is still a sense of lack of direction.  We want a credible Labour party with a clear sense of direction who can command the respect of the party and country. He’s done a phenomenal job but it is time to move on. I think those closest to him should say something.”