Things moving very fast in Westminster. Just saw Brown put in a surprisingly OK performance in PMQs. Cameron said the Prime Minister's "dysfunctional" government in collapse and urged an election. A bullish Brown said the expenses crisis affected the "whole House" and accused Cameron of ignoring policy (he even managed to get some Labour MPs chanting "Nothing" when he repeatedly asked what Tories would do on the economy). Brown praised Alisdair Darling but refused to say whether he'd stay on as Chancellor. Clegg said it's "very dangerous to our democracy when people feel that there's no one in charge". Said the only choice is now between Lib Dems and the Tories. This was followed on BBC News by Peter Mandelson backing Brown and urging him to be strong. He also said, having met with business leaders, that the expenses crisis is damaging our image abroad and hence UK business and the economy. He thinks the responsibility to "move on" is the media's though and not for the voters in an election.
Now there are reports that a group of rebel Labour MPs have begun soliciting signatures for a round robin letter to be presented to the Prime Minister after the results of the local and European elections have come in on Monday. According to the Guardian they hope to get the support of 70 or 80 MPs, though apparently some backbenchers 'have seen the letter and are not signing it on account of a perception that the names already on the list are "too leftwing"'. Alongside rumours of a Blairite plot following the resignation of Hazel Blears - timed for the eve of the elections and just before PMQs as a barely disguised kick in the balls to Brown - the news that leftwing MPs are mobilising against the Prime Minister adds to the picture of a government in complete and utter meltdown.
