London: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown just about managed to survive the EU elections debacle but his leadership is seriously weakened.The UK Parliament was under siege by the media, as inside the future of Prime Minister Gordon Brown was being decided.
Soon it became clear that most MPs in the parliamentary meeting of the Labour party had supported Gordon Brown.
Rebel MPs had not been able to organise a coup against him. Even though they had been baying for his blood, particularly after Labour's humiliating defeat in the elections to the European parliament. They have lost ground even in their strongholds in the UK.
But Brown urged his critics to give him another chance, promising to change.
"He will have to draw in the small number of plotters. Will have to listen more, take in their views," said Geraldine Smith, MP, Labour Party.
But some who had openly spoken out against him in the meeting, remain unconvinced he could change.
"I don't think Gordon understands the scale of the defeat. 15 per cent - that's the lowest post war," put forth Tony Harris, MP, Labour Party.
At the end, one was left wondering what the hullaballoo was about. But the PM survived because of a combination of factors. The absence of a strong leader, discontented MPs could rally around. And the desperate message Brown and his cronies sent out that if there was a leadership change then there would be elections soon after. None of the Labour MPs want an election anytime soon because they know they are staring at an almost certain defeat.