Collapse of Stout Party?
Captain Gordon Brown heads for the rocks - Telegraph
Gordon Brown heads on into the teeth of the gale. The ship plunges towards the surf where waves can be seen breaking on the rocks, the passengers huddle in terrified groups near the lifeboats, but on the bridge is the stubborn figure of Mr Brown.
David Cameron invited Mr Brown to change course yesterday by making "major concessions" on the plan to lock terrorist suspects up for 42 days without charge. But the Prime Minister, his jaw working furiously, replied in a grim tone: "We are going ahead."
.... But as things stand, the Prime Minister looks likely, as Mr Cameron pointed out, to be defeated by those MPs on his own side who will not stand for 42 days: "Another rebellion, another backdown, another U-turn, and the collapse of stout party."
And with the collapse of the Labour vote and Gordon Brown depending on Ken Livingstone to spare him from personal political humiliation, the panicking Labour backbenchers are sharpening their knives. Whether out of that bunch of obsequious cowards there will any brave enough to mount a coup only time will tell.