Conference show of strength by Miliband allies

Allies of David Miliband are to make a show of strength at Labour's conference next month when Gordon Brown's leadership will be under intense pressure.

Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham and Business Secretary John Hutton will address a rally of the Blairite pressure group Progress.

They will be joined by former ministers Peter Mandelson, the European Commissioner who fought bitter Cabinet battles with Mr Brown, and former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, who clashed with Mr Brown over foundation hospitals.

Further pressure on Mr Brown came from a group of ex-ministers - believed to be arch-Blairites former Transport Secretary Stephen Byers and former Home Secretary Charles Clarke - who say they will roll out their own policy packages to fill what they call a "vacuum" of ideas.

His turmoil grew after the leak of a memo, reportedly written by Tony Blair himself, which attacked Mr Brown for having "junked the [Tony Blair] policy agenda [with] nothing to put in its place".

A survey in a Sunday newspaper found six Cabinet ministers refusing to support Mr Brown.