Financial Times FT.com

UK government crisis

Resources

Plot against PM was ‘distraction’

Alistair Darling, chancellor, condemned the plot to oust the prime minister as a “distraction”, saying he was too busy to take the plot seriously

Labour puts on display of solidarity

Britain’s prime minister tries to stamp his authority on a demoralised Labour party, after the third attempted party coup against his leadership in as many years

Ministers warned against Labour betrayal

Speaking in the wake of last week’s botched coup against Gordon Brown, Ed Balls, the schools secretary, urges the party to ‘get back proper politics rather than play politics’

Brown in peace talks to unite Labour

The prime minister has held further peace talks with disgruntled cabinet ministers and prepared to map out Labour’s election strategy, as he tries to unite his party

Cabinet pressure mounts on Brown

The prime minister has been told by two of his most senior ministers to change his leadership style, clarify Labour’s election strategy and abandon ‘class war’ rhetoric

Related content and features

Comment & Analysis

UK foreign policy: Shrunken ambitions

Amid military spending constraints and the rise of new powers, the UK faces the waning of a global influence that has long punched above its weight

Fury as plotters’ damage is done

By 4pm on Wednesday Labour managers believed the nascent rebellion had been crushed before it had even really started, as MPs were sent home early into the snow

Slow support for Brown reflects divisions

The seemingly grudging show of support for Gordon Brown from much of the cabinet after a coup attempt reflects deep divisions over strategy, say Labour insiders

Back to Harriet, darkness and despair

The Labour conference seems to have been going on for ever and the dividing line between reality and nightmare is starting to blur. Any benefit the conference might have provided to Labour has already dissipated

Cabinet cracks put Brown on back foot

The prime minister’s effort to make light of the coup attempt struck a sharp contrast with tensions in the cabinet revealed in the aftermath of the failed putsch

Small change despite call for change

Mr Brown has never learned to tell a story; perhaps that is because he has never really had one

Brown fights back

The next British election might just turn into a contest. Gordon Brown began his speech with a combative yet uncharacteristically succinct crescendo of the achievements of the past 12 years

Department of uncertainty

Whitehall is in despair over its latest crop of ministers, meanwhile Peter Mandelson’s ever-growing empire is causing confusion in the corridors of power, writes Sue Cameron

Editorial Comment

Missing the plot

The government has chosen to run the risk of a fiscal crisis by refusing to set out plans with sufficient rigour. But this vagueness, while regrettable, should end after the election

Immovable object

With the prime minister unable to change certain senior members of his cabinet, it is time for Alastair Darling to begin a new spending review

Brown’s vestigial authority on wane

Gordon Brown has a slim chance to assert his authority and restore some backbone to his invertebrate party. If he fails, the voters have the right to choose their new government at a general election

Time runs out for Gordon Brown

The stench of fin de siécle surrounds Mr Brown. When in a similar situation, John Major submitted himself to a “back me or sack me” leadership contest. The current prime minister should do the same

More stories

Cabinet cracks put Brown on back foot

Slow response weakens Miliband

Conservatives struggle to hide their glee

The plotters

Key questions yet to be answered

Labour coup unlikely to leave starting blocks

Brown damaged by attempted coup

PM tries to defuse voucher row

Cabinet presses Brown for plebiscite on voting

Jilted party discovers fighting spirit

Sun follows the reader in rejecting Labour

PM focuses minds on election

Brown: ‘I do not roll over’

Brown focuses on ‘squeezed middle’

Straw blocks Mandelson escape from Lords

Rise of the presidential PM

Ministerial ‘bag-carrier’ posts go unfilled

Gaps in PPS ranks reflect weakened morale

Brown must go, Labour told

Poll win for Cameron and new House ‘baby’