Glasgow by-poll loss could spell political doom for Gordon Brown
7 Jul 2008, 1259 Hrs

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London, July 7 (ANI): Members of Parliament representing the ruling New Labour party have warned Prime Minister Gordon Brown that his political future will be at stake when the party fights a crucial by-election in Glasgow.

Some of them were quoted by the Daily Telegraph as saying that there would be no way back for Brown if the party loses the traditional Labour stronghold in Glasgow East.

One former minister even warned that winning in Glasgow would not save Brown, and losing the safe seat would hasten his exit.

Senior Labour figures are concerned that interference from London, and particularly by the party's deputy leader Harriet Harman, could prove a "recipe for disaster" and risk handing victory to the Scottish Nationalists.

Alex Salmond's party needs to overturn a commanding 13,507 Labour majority to win, but there is a growing feeling that such a feat is possible after what was described as Labour's "lost weekend".

Brown's waning authority was in evidence over the weekend, when the constituency party was forced to resort to its fifth choice candidate after four senior party members refused the Prime Minister's personal pleas to stand.

Margaret Curran, a local MSP, has been parachuted in but has indicated that she has no plans to resign her Scottish Parliament seat and will be a part-time MP.

The Prime Minister arrived in Japan last night for the G8 meeting of world leaders hoping that Labour would finally select its candidate on Monday.

The Conservatives launch their campaign for the seat on Monday. (ANI)