“BLAIR TALIBAN” OUT TO TOPPLE BROWN

26-03-2007

The Stirrer's Westminster sources reckon Gordon Brown's decision to employ Commons leader Jack Straw to run his leadership campaign will head off efforts to undermine the Chancellor being led by a group of MP's known as “the Blair Taliban”.

Straw says he has “absolutely no doubt” Brown is the man to lead the country, and has written to every Labour MP telling them so. His backing is likely to ensure that wavering Blairite modernisers - including Hodge Hill MP Liam Byrne - will now throw their weight behind his campaign.

Not everyone is convinced though. Peter Mandelson - a leading light in the Blair Taliban - has spent the weekend trying to create an opening for the Environment Secretary David Milliband to stand against Brown.

He told the BBC yesterday that he, Brown and Blair, were “men of the 90's.” Meaning - nudge, nudge, wink, wink - thatBrown's yesterday's man, so you might as well throw your weight behind the young pretender.

Significantly, though, the Prime Minister himself is standing aloof from the debate.

Now that such a close ally as Straw has hopped on board the Brown bandwagon, it seems unlikely that he will directly intervene in the party leadership battle, leaving the way clear from Brown.