Call to back PM as unrest grows!

Mr Brown could face further pressure if European election results are poor

Key Labour figures continue to rally round Gordon Brown as talk of a fresh leadership challenge persists ahead of European election results out later.

Influential left-wing backbencher John Cruddas joined those backing the PM and said ousting him would be "madness".

Mr Brown insists he is "focused on the task in hand", despite unrest after Thursday's grim local election results.

Meanwhile, newspapers have published details of e-mails sent in 2008 by Lord Mandelson describing Mr Brown's flaws.

Written before Lord Mandelson returned to cabinet, they portray the prime minister as insecure, self-conscious and "angry" and suggest he should spend more time formulating policy than "telling people you watch X-Factor".

The business secretary's office insisted the comments were taken out of context and that he was merely saying Mr Brown ought to "be himself", in response to questions about his image.

The reports come as Mr Brown faced more flak from Caroline Flint who had walked out of her job as Europe Minister, claiming he treated women in his cabinet as "window dressing".

In an interview with the Observer, the Don Valley MP accused the prime minister of "negative bullying" of women and "using" them for his political ends.

Ms Flint's was one of six ministerial resignations during a turbulent week for Labour, capped by a disastrous performance in the English local elections.

We either pull ourselves together, stake out what we stand for, or we will be gone John Cruddas MP Mandelson e-mails list PM's flaws Storm far from over for Brown

The Liberal Democrats said the government had been left in an "unbelievable shambles", while the Conservatives called for an immediate general election.

Labour lost control of all four of its remaining county councils, and its share of the vote slumped to 23%, on Thursday.

Despite this, former leader Lord Kinnock and new culture secretary Ben Bradshaw called on MPs to back the prime minister.

Mr Cruddas, who finished third in the 2007 deputy leadership contest, told the Sunday Mirror: "Everyone knows our government is in trouble. Serious trouble.

"But to suggest that we'll tackle those problems simply by chucking Gordon Brown overboard is madness," he said.

"We're now less than a year away from the election. We have no more chances left. We either pull ourselves together, stake out what we stand for, or we will be gone."

BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said his comments had dealt a blow to the cause of rebels calling for Mr Brown to go.

But she said: "Act two of the Westminster drama is expected to start after the results of the European elections, widely predicted to be dismal for Labour.

"If they are, they could trigger a fresh attempt to unseat the prime minister."

Mr Brown has shown no sign of caving in to rebels' demands.

Speaking in France, while visiting to mark the 65th anniversary of the D-day landings, he said he remained focused on dealing with the economic downturn and rebuilding trust in politics after the expenses scandal.

"In these unprecedented times, you are bound to have ups and downs in politics.

"But you have to stick with policies and make sure they come through. We keep on with the task in hand and we are not diverted from it."

He pledged to set out policies on health, education and policing in the coming weeks.

BBC NEWS REPORT.