Brown set for poll mauling

LONDON – Under-fire British Prime Minister Gordon Brown readied yesterday for the results of European elections that could see his Labour party savaged and deal a potentially fatal blow to his fragile leadership.

Brown, reeling after a chaotic week in which 10 government ministers resigned amid disastrous local elections, is facing intense public anger over a deep recession and the escalating row over lawmakers’ expenses.Pressure mounted yesterday ahead of results from the European Parliament elections in which polls suggest Labour could come third or even fourth, with the main opposition Conservatives in the lead.Results from the European elections held across the 27-nation bloc are expected after 2000 GMT.Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, quizzed on BBC television, warned party rebels that any attempt to replace Brown would spark a general election.Reports of a rebellion by Labour backbenchers last week failed to materialise after Brown reshuffled his cabinet and several high profile ministers publicly pledged their support for his leadership.But concerns remain that he cannot lead them to electoral success – opinion polls suggest the Conservatives would easily win a national election – and a bad showing in the European vote would reinforce these.Brown faced fresh embarrassment on yesterday from a leaked email written by Mandelson in which he described Brown as ‘self-conscious’ and ‘insecure’. – Namapa-AFP