Gordon Brown Coup: David Miliband Ready to Grab Leadership

The Foreign Secretary fires the first salvo in a deliberate challenge to Mr Brown in a newspaper article. Although he insisted tonight that he did not believe Labour should indulge in “introspection”, Mr Miliband’s intervention will intensify the pressure on Mr Brown to stand down.

Mr Miliband is planning a series of speeches setting out his vision for the party’s future, according to an MP close to him. In doing so, the Foreign Secretary effectively will be defying Mr Brown to sack him – a move that could hasten the Prime Minister’s own end. Mr Miliband is likely to claim that he is doing no more than setting out his personal vision for Labour’s future in tomorrow’s article for The Guardian, but its timing and content will ensure that it is interpreted as an assault on Mr Brown’s leadership.

Labour whips are now urging Mr Brown to bring forward his planned reshuffle after reports that ten ministers are prepared to stand down to force him to quit.