Labour's Self-Destruction Continues

Everywhere you read, it's getting harder and harder for Gordon Brown.

- John Prescott thinks Brown was "frustrating, annoying, bewildering and prickly."

- Lord Levy says it would be "inconceivable" that Gordon Brown did not know about the loans made to the Labour Party for the 2005 general election.

- Stephen Byers accuses Mr Brown of manipulating the tax system "for political advantage" and being "distant and uncaring."

- Cherie Blair's memoirs were scheduled for the autumn, but have now had an early release to add to their troubles.

- If the government is defeated on the budget next month, Brown will have to resign. The 20 members of the Campaign group of left-wing MPs will meet this week to discuss plans to vote against the budget bill.

- If the government is defeated on 42-day detention, he'll probably have to resign as well.

Finally, an ICM survey for the Mail on Sunday suggests the Tories could win the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, their first in a seat held by another party since 1982. The poll puts the Tories on 43%, Labour on 39% and the Liberal Democrats on 16%.