The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, London

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, hit by a third crushing by-election defeat in as many months, could be forced to quit unless he reverses his government's flagging fortunes, media said Saturday.

Brown's governing Labour Party saw the Scottish National Party (SNP) overturn its 13,507 majority in the Glasgow East constituency in a vote Thursday, indicating it is now haemorrhaging support in its heartland. Labour members of parliament, fearful for their jobs at the next general election, were now urging senior ministers to tell Brown to step down or face being ousted after they return from holidays in September, newspapers said. Most carried unattributed quotes apparently from the same sources, blaming the prime minister for their current woes, despite a united show of support Friday from his senior Cabinet colleagues.

One of the quotes from an unnamed minister said: "We cannot go any lower. We are at rock bottom. We are not a one-nation party any more. We are now a no-nation party."

Another quote read: "It's become clear that no-one can do any worse than Gordon. If it's happening in Scotland, what chance do we have in London and the southeast (of England)?"

Justice Secretary Jack Straw and the former defence secretary Geoff Hoon were both said to have been sounded out to approach Brown to get him to stand down or face being ousted.

Both The Sun and the Daily Mail-both actively courted by Labour because of their perceived influence on voters-acknowledged the threat to Brown but held back from calling him to quit.

The Daily Mail's political editor said Glasgow East had left Brown facing "a battle for survival". "All talk now is not if, but when, an attempt is made to unseat him," he added.

In an editorial the newspaper said Brown's job was safe for now, but the knives would be sharpened in the run-up to Labour's annual conference on September 20, unless he turned things around in the next two months.