New threat to PM from Brown's allies

Tony Blair was today beset by growing discontent among Labour MPs and new rumours that Gordon Brown is manoeuvring to take his job.

Allies were said to be complaining bitterly that supporters of the Chancellor were going around Westminster arguing that the Prime Minister should resign.

Tensions between the two camps were heightened by the disclosure that Mr Brown held a private meeting in Downing Street on Monday with media tycoon Rupert Murdoch.

Mr Brown also saw Mr Murdoch on Tuesday night when he used an advertising industry dinner to make an avowedly pro-American speech likely to have pleased the News International chief.

Their friendship was seen as a charm offensive by the Chancellor to woo one of the most influential media figures, whose newspapers' support is deemed by New Labour to be crucial to a Prime Minister.

Mr Blair today hit the election campaign trail in an attempt to divert the focus from Iraq to domestic issues, including education. But Labour MPs at Westminster were increasingly saying that a drubbing in the local and European elections on 10 June would spark calls for him to stand down.

Labour MPs say Mr Blair's leadership is weaker than at any time since he won power in 1997.

So far only the rump of Leftwingers is openly calling for him to quit.

One senior backencher told the Evening Standard: "Tony can survive a bad set of election results in June but if Iraq gets worse at the same time you would see a lot of sniping and probably open lobbying for a Brown takeover.

"The mood among colleagues is very bleak. The problem is Iraq is making it impossible to get our message over to the voters but this is not something that could be solved by changing the leader."

Labour whips have been told to prepare for a snap reshuffle after the 10 June polls in an attempt to refresh the Government and reassert Mr Blair's authority.

But the changes in Cabinet are expected to be limited because Mr Blair's advisers fear creating a set of dangerous new enemies on the backbenches.

"We don't want another Robin Cook or Clare Short out there," said one.

After chairing Cabinet, Mr Blair was setting out on a two-day trip to the Midlands and North-East to highlight the Government's record on public services for the local elections.

But aides are frustrated that Iraq has caused him to lose control of the agenda, with recent campaign launches on Europe and local government blotted out by questions over the abuse of prisoners.