Blanks or bullets?

Byline: JIM HANCOCK

WILL Merseyside MPs who've been longstanding critics of Gordon Brown fire blanks or bullets tonight? Voters here and across the region have put the gun in their hands with last night's poor showing for Labour in the European election results, and the spectacle of the Tories winning a ward in Skelmersdale in the Lancashire County Council elections.

The Parliamentary Labour Party meets this evening with the Prime Minister's future on their minds. However, a word of caution is needed. Many's the time political commentators have been led to expect executions at the PLP, only for MPs to emerge mumbling about the need for unity.

Tonight could be another of those occasions. For instance Walton's Peter Kilfoyle, no friend of Gordon Brown, was being cautious last week saying he couldn't see how changing the leader would improve things substantially. Last night's

European showing for Labour may lead him to a different conclusion but there's no guarantee that Alan Johnson or anyone else would make that much difference.

Personally I am relaxed about unelected Prime Ministers. As far as I'm concerned, the gover ning party can change its leader as often as it likes provided I can have my say every four or five years. But I recognise that there is a strong body of opinion which is offended that Brown has not faced the voters and would be even more upset if Alan Johnson should follow the same route.

Therein lies the Prime Minister's trump card. If he is turfed out, the pressure for the next leader to go to the country quickly will be almost irresistible.

An early election could see Labour reduced to a rump. Many Labour backbenchers may conclude that with Cabinet changes made, a promise to clean up politics and the possibility of better economic news in the New Year that it would be wise to stick with Gordon.

I spent the weekend at the counts for Lancashire Council and North West members of the European Parliament. It was no surprise that the Tory majorities piled up in the more rural parts of West Lancashire, but Carolyn Evans' victory in Skelmersdale East meant the Labour citadel had been breached. At both the council and European counts one heard Labour grassroots bitterness at the antics of Hazel Blears.

Blears was the Communities and Local Gover nment Secretary.

Quitting on the eve of local elections, with a "rocking the boat" badge on her jacket, could see her deselected.

Another female departure was that of Minister for the North West, Bev Hughes, recently accused of giving insufficient attention to Liverpool's needs. Hughes was overworked combining her job as Children's Minister with her r egional r esponsibilities.

If Gordon Brown is serious about giving us a regional champion, then he should now appoint someone whose sole job is to represent the North West, if he's still around..An early election could see Labour reduced to a rump