Any Other Business

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), July 30, 2008

Byline: PETER YOUNG

WHAT the future holds for Gordon Brown's premiership is anybody's guess, but it's clear there are deep divisions in Labour ranks.

While the loyalty of some, such as Newcastle East & Wallsend MP Nick Brown, a Government minister and close friend of the embattled PM, is without question, others believe he should go, and soon.

Nick Brown, pictured, made it clear following Labour's disastrous by-election defeat in Glasgow East that the Government will take on board the message from voters and will fight on, under Gordon Brown.

It's not a view shared by others. One senior Labour figure told me a leadership election is a distinct possibility though it would take an approach from senior cabinet colleagues to the PM for that to happen.

My source, who claimed a senior member of the Cabinet is briefing against the PM and the crunch will come at the conference in September, said: "We are screwed under Brown."

My view has always been that the Government will soldier on, under Gordon Brown, in the hope the economy improves and they can pull off victory against the odds. I still think that but I'm no longer as sure..

NICK Forbes, leader of Newcastle Council's opposition Labour group, could have a hand in shaping the parry's manifesto for the next General Election following the national policy forum in Warwick.

Coun Forbes got support on proposals for tougher measures against employers who take on illegal workers and greater input from parents in the work of education academies which could be included in the manifesto.

COUNCILLORS had a laugh when they saw the latest edition of Newcastle Council's CityLife magazine, which has an article highlighting the dangers of binge drinking.

It seeks people's views on how to tackle alcohol problems and solemnly declares: "Did you know that the North East has more people who drink at harmful levels than the rest of the country?"

Four pages on, and there's a picture of national wine writer Malcolm Gluck with the council's Fairtrade officer Stella Carmichael and Chris Jewitt, chairman of the Newcastle Fairtrade Partnership, glasses in hand, promoting Fairtrade Wine after a wine tasting.

NEWCASTLE councilllor Doreen Huddart, pictured, is off to Bosnia in October to help the EU monitor the country's elections.

She's been a regular visitor since she first went as a nurse to help with the humanitarian effort following the war.

The Heaton ward Lib Dem said: "l've idea where I'll be going but I'll be interested to see what progress hes been made re-building the country."