BROWN PLEA TO MPS AFTER POLL PASTING.

Byline: By OONAGH BLACKMAN Political Editor

GORDON Brown yesterday called on Labour to hold its nerve as jittery MPs plotted to oust Tony Blair after a poll put the Tories 10 points ahead.

Pressure is also growing on the PM over the honours probe which could soon see Mr Blair quizzed by police.

Documents and emails from No 10 are alleged to have thrown up new lines of inquiry about loans from businessmen later nominated for peerages.

The tension spilled over in the Commons yesterday in a clash over the jail crisis. Tory leader David Cameron taunted Mr Blair: "Now I want to take the Prime Minister back to prison, actually that has a certain ring to it."

Meanwhile, groups of Labour MPs are meeting to plan a new campaign to force Mr Blair out early next year. One source said they will hold fire until after the Queen's Speech and the Pre-Budget Report next month.

The Chancellor was asked about Labour's 29 per cent rating in an ICM poll - the lowest since 1987.

Appealing to voters to judge Labour on its record, Mr Brown said: "At the end of the day - and Tony could be here, or I could be here - people vote on policies. If the economy is doing well, the health service and schools doing better, people will respond."

But he admitted there have been "a lot of problems" recently in the NHS.