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 04 July 2008 21:30 BST

Field continues attack on Brown

Monday, 12 May 2008 19:12
Frank Field is continuing to pile on the pressure on Gordon Brown
The prime minister has dimsissed comments made by backbench rebel MP Frank Field this morning.

But at a press briefing earlier today a spokesman for 10 Downing Street said: "The prime minister's view is that he's not going to be distracted and what he's focusing on are the big issues facing the country."

Mr Field, former minister of welfare reform and leader of the Labour rebellion over the 10p tax band tax fiasco, launched a devastating attack on his party leader over the weekend.

Saying Gordon Brown experienced "indescribable rages" and was "unhappy inside his own body", Mr Field also expressed doubts the prime minister would lead Labour into the next election.

The interview, on the BBC's World Service, reflects a new level of confidence among disgruntled Labour MPs following the party's massacre at the recent local elections.

The ex-minister claimed anger over the 10p tax rate was of a level he had not seen before and hinted it could see the Budget being voted down.

Mr Field, speaking on the BBC's Any Questions?, said: "I do believe the stakes are very, very high for the prime minister indeed – if his backbenchers are not satisfied by...the form that the compensation package will take, it may destroy his premiership."

The comments have drawn attention away from Mr Brown's attempt to regain the initiative with a speech today on social care.

They also come hot on the heels of damaging memoir revelations from Lord Levy, Cherie Blair and former deputy prime minister John Prescott.

Lord Levy's comments could be particularly damaging to the prime minister as he claims it is "inconceivabl" Mr Brown knew nothing about the loans at the centre of the cash-for-peerages scandal.

Downing Street has reacted furiously to the claims, with an aide to the prime minister dismissing the comments as "complete, unsubstantiated garbage".

"Gordon Brown knew nothing whatsoever about these loans," they continued.

The accusation follows Lord Levy's previous outburst earlier this month in which he said Tony Blair did not believe Gordon Brown could win the next election.



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