Straw warns Labour leader rebels

Replacing Gordon Brown as Labour leader without a general election would be "unconstitutional", justice secretary Jack Straw has said.

In a clear message to restless Labour backbenchers, Straw also said that Brown was "the best leader we could possibly have" in the current economic circumstances.

And he dismissed speculation that the prime minister might be replaced as "nonsense".

Straw, who is also lord chancellor, was asked on BBC1's Andrew Marr show whether it would be unconstitutional to replace Brown without going to the polls.

He replied: "Technically it would be unconstitutional, but it's not going to happen".

The news that ousting the prime minister would mean a general election is likely to ward off Labour backbenchers, given the party's terrible poll ratings.

One poll on Friday put Labour at its lowest level since polling began in 1943 with just 23 per cent - 24 points behind the Conservatives.

There have been mutterings about Brown's leadership following Labour's disastrous performances in the local elections and Crewe and Nantwich by-election, which came after a U-turn on the 10p tax rate.

But at a time when the cost of living is rising, Straw said the prime minister was the right man to lead the country and that poll ratings would change.

He said: "Speculation about the leadership, frankly, is nonsense. We have a leader.

"He is the best leader we could possibly have and he will see us through these difficulties."

Business secretary John Hutton also insisted Brown was the "right leader" for Labour, the government and the country.

"I think unity is the essential pre-condition for progress in politics. So we should get behind the leader that we ourselves have chosen and support him in the job he is doing," he told Sky News.

"Which is to see us through these difficult times and to make sure we continue to become a wealthier and fairer society in the future."