Trying to depose Brown. Again.

Yet another coup attempt against Brown:

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.

Part of a letter sent around by Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon. Not for the first time, I'll say that you can know a man by the calibre of his enemies. And if total wankers like Hoon and Hewitt are your enemies, then you must be shit.

Anyway, I don't know whether the latest anti-Brown coup will get anywhere. I mean, the one thing Brown has been good at as Prime Minister is fighting off the attempts to unseat him. But then again, that's probably about the calibre of his enemies. But I do have to agree with Dale when he states:

Do you know what I would do if I were Gordon Brown?

I'd consider going to see the Queen this afternoon and call an election.

Think about it. Why not?

Why not indeed? Ok, it would be the plot of the final episode of the most recent series of The Thick of It. But Gordon Brown would have very little to lose by going to the country now. A snap election might catch the Tories on the back foot, and it would hold off Labour attempts to destroy their leader - at least for the duration of the campaign. Labour might even end up losing fewer seats if they fight the election now. In fact, the only thing that could stop Brown from calling an election this afternoon is his natural, debilitating fear of any sort of competition.

Which is why I'd be very surprised if it happens.