How to replace Gord

The rules for replacing Gordon Brown - Telegraph

The rules that would determine Labour's search for a new leader to replace Gordon Brown would depend on whether he chose to step down or decided to cling on and fight any challenger.

For as long as Mr Brown opts to remain in office, the rules make it intentionally hard to remove him.

They state that an election can only be triggered if 20 per cent of Labour MPs endorse a rival candidate.

Given Labour's current numbers in the House of Commons, this means that 71 MPs would have to put their names to a letter backing a challenger to Mr Brown.

Even that would not be enough to ensure a full leadership election took place.

The final decision would rest with delegates and trade unionists at Labour's annual conference - due in September - or a special leadership conference convened by the party's National Executive Committee.

If a majority of voting delegates at a conference supported a challenge to Mr Brown in a card vote, a full contest would then begin.

The election, with postal votes from MPs, trade unions and grassroots members, could take around six weeks.

If Mr Brown were to step down and create a leadership vacancy, replacing him would be much quicker.

Under the alternative rules that apply in the event of a vacancy, the Cabinet would elect one of its members to become interim leader until a formal election could be called.

Mr Brown's enemies are advancing a scenario where those rules would be used to make Alan Johnson interim leader, in the hope that he would then be the only candidate in the subsequent election.

Simple Eh?


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