Brown challengers 'egotistical'

Andrew Black
The Politics Show's reporter in Scotland

Mr Connarty gave his full support to his leader's economic policies

Labour MP Michael Connarty has said his party would lose power to the Conservatives if forced to call an early election under a new leader.

Mr Connarty branded Gordon Brown's Labour challengers "egotistical" and "self-indulgent", while backing the prime minister's economic policies.

The Linlithgow and East Falkirk MP also told BBC Scotland's Politics Show that the claimed circulation of an e-mail among Labour MPs questioning Mr Brown's leadership was a "spurious con".

Last week saw the departure of six cabinet ministers from the UK Government and devastating local election results for the Labour Party, which saw it lose control of its four councils and its vote share drop to a historic low of 23%.

The latest critic, former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer, has called for an urgent debate on Mr Brown's leadership.

But Mr Connarty said he was committed to the Brown government.

Asked if Labour could win an election if it had to call one early because of a leadership change, the MP replied: "I doubt if the incumbent party could hold under the present circumstances. I think what you'd have is a Conservative Party in power."

And on the e-mail campaign against Mr Brown, Mr Connarty responded: "I understand that the e-mail that was going about was a con, it was a spurious con.

"It wasn't a real e-mail being put out by any member of the parliamentary Labour Party."

You can e-mail your comments on the e-mail form below ...

Join Glenn Campbell on the Politics Show on Sunday on BBC One at 11:00.