Labour plotters eye 'Aznar option'
Gordon Brown fights on, as usual
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Thursday, 24, Dec 2009 11:13
By politics.co.uk staff
A plan to replace Gordon Brown as Labour leader while keeping him in No 10 is being considered by senior Labour figures, a newspaper has reported.
The Independent claimed some Cabinet ministers backed the suggestion the prime minister could give his party a chance of outright victory in the coming general election by standing aside.
One MP suggested: "It would be like a neighbour from hell telling you he was moving house. You would say 'sorry' but you would jump for joy."
The plan would mirror the ploy of former Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar, who announced he would leave politics at a coming election and remained in his post until the poll took place.
His centre-right Popular party lost the 2005 election unexpectedly, a result largely attributed to the Madrid train bombings.
If a critical mass of Cabinet ministers, said to be four, backs the idea Mr Brown could find himself not participating in the televised live debates planned for the general election campaign.
The 'Aznar option' remains unlikely, however. One minister told the Independent: "The problem remains - who is going to tell Gordon?"