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Brown survives, but for how long?

Labour’s worst showing in council and European Parliamentary elections notwithstanding, Britain’s embattled Prime Minister Gordon Brown has survived the latest bid on his position in office, reports Vijay Dutt.

Updated on: Jun 9, 2009, 23:23:45 IST
Hindustan Times | By , London
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Labour’s worst showing in council and European Parliamentary elections notwithstanding, Britain’s embattled Prime Minister Gordon Brown has survived the latest bid on his position in office.

HT Image
HT Image

At a crucial meeting with some 400 MPs and peers on Monday, he adopted a humble tone — and was rewarded with a reprieve, at least until autumn, by the very people who had come to bury him.

For now, humility has won Brown the chance to improve the economy, and if it succeeds, Conservative MP David Cameron might have much to be worried about.

Brown’s appeal was emotional.

“I have my strengths and I have my weaknesses. I know there are some things I do well and some things not so well”.

He won over the rebels by ending with an appeal. “I’m not making a plea for unity, I’m making a case for unity.” The thumping of the tables signalled he was going to stay at Downing Street.

But the hardcore rebels, six in all, called for him to go. A few said let the ballot decide his fate. But they couldn’t muster enough support and as Miliband said, it’s all over for them.

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