Westminster blog

Here is the story in the Evening Standard.

The two former cabinet ministers are claiming that they are not trying to oust Gordon Brown necessarily.

Instead they want to clear the air, according to the Standard.

“Many colleagues have expressed their frustration at the way in which this (leadership) question is affecting our political performance,” they said in the letter. “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.”

Hewitt is a Blairite former health secretary. Hoon, former transport secretary, is understood to be unhappy at not getting a major Europe job since leaving the cabinet last summer. The pair are claiming that in theory the party could unite behind Brown, ending recent in-fighting.

“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.” Mr Hoon and Ms Hewitt added: “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 againstour political opponents. We can only do that if we resolve these distractions. We hope that you will support this proposal.”

As Joe Murphy points out, accurately, any coup still needs the support of cabinet heavyweights such as Lord Mandelson, Alistair Darling and David Miliband to succeed.

Remember that the Rasputin-like Brown survived a rebellion last summer when a dozen ministers resigned. If he could shake off that kind of challenge, then what hope for another attempt?

Interestingly, this has taken many backbenchers by surprise. One persistent rebel (who I trust) was telling me only this morning that he was unaware of any new co-ordinated plotting, to his disappointment.

There is also the problem of logistics. Tony Lloyd, chair of the PLP – and the man who might authorise a secret ballot – has already given his backing to Brown.

Who, therefore, would arrange the ballot, and is it possible that it could remain secret? That is one of the questions which could hamstring the rebels’ attempts.