The plot involved some of the Government’s most senior figures, who are now facing claims that they gave tacit support to the coup attempt.

David Cameron said: "How much time do you think senior ministers spent yesterday thinking about the budget deficit, about the education of our children, about the war in Afghanistan, and how much were they thinking about their own careers?"

He added: "We cannot go on like this.

"We've got to have an election and a change of government."

Mr Cameron suggested that Mr Brown lacked a mandate" from either his party or the country.

 

"Gordon Brown has only been prime minister for a couple of years and is in deep trouble," he added.

Plotters behind the demand for a secret ballot of Labour MPs and peers on whether Mr Brown should be replaced say half a dozen Cabinet ministers were ready to join a coup.

The ministers in question were named as Commons Leader Harriet Harman, Foreign Secretary David Miliband, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy.

The six had apparently signalled to rebels that they were prepared to join an effort to remove the Prime Minister if it was conducted in the right way, according to the BBC.

After news of the surprise ballot call from ex-Cabinet members Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt broke just after noon yesterday, there were long delays before senior ministers broke cover to rally around the premier. Many of their comments also appeared to stop short of giving Mr Brown full backing.

Mr Miliband -- widely seen as a potential successor to Mr Brown -- waited nearly seven hours before issuing his response.

He merely stated: “I am working closely with the Prime Minister on foreign policy issues and support the re-election campaign for a Labour government that he is leading.”

Accosted later by reporters, he refused to be drawn further, saying: “My position is absolutely clear. I’ve spent the day doing government business.”

Mrs Harman -- the deputy Labour leader -- was only slightly more effusive, insisting shortly after 6pm: “We’re all united in our determination to do what’s best for the country, which is for Labour, led by Gordon Brown, to win the general election.”

Mr Ainsworth said: “The PM has the support of his colleagues. My focus is, and has to be, on our armed forces in Afghanistan and elsewhere.”

Mr Straw stressed that the polls were better now than when Mr Brown took over.

“I do not think there is an issue about the direction that Gordon Brown and the Cabinet and the Government as a whole are trying to lead this country,” he added.

Mr Alexander said: “Gordon Brown has shown he can deliver for the British people.

“As general election co-ordinator my focus is, and will remain, on securing Labour’s re-election.”

Mr Murphy said: “This is a distraction from the important work of protecting jobs and working towards the economic recovery.”