EU Labour MEPs rally behind embattled Brown

The leader of the UK's socialist MEPs has thrown his weight behind embattled UK premier Gordon Brown.

Questions about Labour leader Brown's premiership have dominated the run up to the party’s annual conference in Manchester next week.
 
It is seen as a big test for Brown as he seeks to reassert his authority over the party following a series of poor election and opinion poll figures.
 
About a dozen Labour MPs have called for a leadership challenge to Brown - including Scotland Office minister David Cairns who resigned earlier this week.

But Gary Titley, who leads the delegation of Labour MEPs in Brussels, dismissed the constant speculation about Brown’s leadership as “media hype.”

Titley attended a meeting of the party’s national executive committee earlier this week and said he detected “no enthusiasm for removing Brown, who has served just over a year as prime minister.

He said, “I think a lot of all this speculation has been whipped up by the press. It is all froth and not much else as far as I am concerned.”

More support came from another senior Labour MEP Peter Skinner, who described Brown as a “good and proven leader.”

He said, “We are in the middle of a financial crisis and we need a good hand on the tiller. The people who are casting doubt on him represent a very small faction in the party.”

Titley and party colleague Glenys Kinnock are both standing down as MEPs in next year’s European elections and are due to attend the gathering in Manchester where they will be honoured for their service.

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