Only Johnson has the power to save Labour
Tuesday, 9 June 2009 12:00 AM
By Ian Dunt
Britain would return a hung parliament at the next election if Labour had Alan Johnson as its leader, a new poll suggests.
A ComRes survey for the Independent forecast a 74 majority for the Tories if Gordon Brown stays in power, but a change of leadership to the new home secretary would see the Conservatives six seats short of a majority.
Should such a result be delivered, Labour would be strongly tempted to team up with the Lib Dems to keep the Tories out and stay in power.
Mr Johnson is the only Labour figure capable of stopping a Tory victory, the survey found, with Jack Straw, David Miliband, Jon Cruddas, Ed Balls, Harriet Harman, James Purnell or Mr Brown all forecast to lose to David Cameron.
But Mr Straw, Mr Miliband, Mr Cruddas and Mr Balls all would see better results than Labour's current leader.
But the poll will come too late for Labour plotters who saw potential allies discouraged by a vigorous Downing Street offensive over the last few days. Many MPs accepted the argument - put forcefully by Peter Mandelson - that any change of leadership would trigger an instant general election and a Labour bloodbath.
Without any obvious contenders to take on Mr Brown, the rebellion against him appears to have been quelled.
Newsletter sign up