By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

UPDATING...

Some reaction to the letter from Twitter and elsewhere...

Ed Balls
We're getting on with the job of government. Most people are looing at this and thinking we've lost our marbles; the important thing is that we get on, have a strengthening recovery. The majority of the PLP will have seen Gordon Brown doing brilliantly at PMQs, really putting David Cameron on the spot. I've got a lot of respect for Geoff and Patricia, but I don't they're speaking for the majority of the PLP. I've spoken to the PM, but he's getting on with doing the job; he's got a busy job this afternoon. There's always been noising off - in any political party. Gordon Brown is the best leader to take us into the election and the best person to take Britain through the recession. Today will be seen as a damp squib, the reality is that we are united. It's frustrating to have had a really good PMQs and then have the media moving on to these issues. Peter Manelson and Shaun Woodward are both behind the PM - and we'll see that from other cabinet ministers in the coming hours. The real politics and divisions could be seen in PMQs. This Labour Party is more united now than it's ever been. We have to take the argument to the country in a disciplined way. This afternoon is a diversion, but we'll move beyond it very quickly. Peter Mandelson put it very well: the cabinet is united behind Gordon Brown. We can win the argument at the ballot box. This week has been a very good week for the Labour goverment.

Peter Mandelson
No one should over react to this initiative. The Prime Minister continues to have the support of the cabinet. We will carry on as normal.

Will Straw says "Hewitt and Hoon are Labour's Dumb and Dumber"

Shaun Woodward
This is a school yard campaign. I'm 100% behind Gordon Brown because he's done a superb job. Around Britain, people will be astonished by this action. We think the right thing to o is get on and sort out the country. Jack Straw and Alistair Darling are doing their jobs. Geoff and Pat should withdraw this.

@alexsmith1982
One of the "usual suspects" is privately saying this "plot" is a "damp squib" <---It's going nowhere

@alexsmith1982
I think it's probably time for a secret ballot we can all take part in.

John Mann
Pat Hewitt's been raking it in from the private sector using her contacts book. This is going nowhere; it'll be over by the end of the day. Hoon has sour grapes because he didn't get the gravy train European job -- I'd like to take him into a backroom and sort him out personally. They're two pompous idiots.

Charles Clarke
I have written to Tony Lloyd, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, to support Geoff Hoon's and Patricia Hewitt's proposal for a secret ballot of the Parliamentary Labour Party. I believe that this is the best way to resolve the many concerns which exist within the PLP and the ballot could be organized in a very few days. If such a ballot does confirm the Prime Minister in his leadership I will categorically accept that result and give him my public and private support through to the General Election.

Margaret Beckett
This is a waste of time, a big mistake - it should be ignored.

Patricia Hewitt
Supporters of the PM should welcome and support the secret ballot. It's clear in retrospect that it's a pity that there was no leadership election when Tony Blair left in 2007. A ballot could happen next Monday. Geoff and I have not been canvassing on this; this is not a plot. We've one this because we believe this is in the best interests of the Labour Party. We want an end to the public division, the briefings. The division is weakening our attack on the Conservatives. We've ha months punctutaed by public calls for the PM to go, by resignation, by speculation, by private worry. I have people in my constituency who strongly support the PM, but who want the matter resolved. We're saying quite straightforwardly and publicly: secret ballot, do it quickly, so everyone can abide by the result.

Number 10
Labour doesn't want a vote on the leadership.; it is ludicrous to suggest it would be helpful.

David Blunkett
A secret ballot is not possible maccording to Labour Party rules.

Tony Lloyd
Gordon Brown will be the leader next week and at the general election. There won't be a secret ballot because there is not the demand. It's pinprick stuff, but it deflects from us talking about our own policies.

Geoff Hoon
As a former chief whip I've been extremely concerned by the level of doubt in the PLP. I've had several emails within minutes saying what a good idea this is...If there is a clear majority of the PLP in favour of maintaining the current leaership, we can go on and fight the election...There are large concerns amongst Labour MPs...a widesprea group of MPs...about our inability to get our message across, and continuing questions about the Labour leadership...It will not be in the interest of the Labour Party to go into an election campaign with these issues rumbling on. If this matter is resolved once an for all, then everyone has to accept the result. Clarifying matters will help. The choice is between continuing ivision an uncertaintly an resolving the matter and uniting behind a leader.

Tony Lloyd, Chair PLP
"This is a diversion, not where we ought to be heading...there is no constitutional provision for this kind of sideshow"

@jessica_asato
I am at a loss for words. The time for complaining was June. Not now.

@AndrewLomas
This is just self-indulgence from people who could have spoken up at any time in the past 2 years. Why now?!

@CharlieWhelan
Would like to tweet what all the Labour Party members are saying about hoon and hewitt but mostly too abusive.

@MartinBright
Rather brilliant wheeze from Hoon and Hewitt. Is Gordon enough of a democrat? I wonder

@MartinBright
It's now or never

@Jessica_Asato
My money is on never

Luke Akehurst
Bizarre, weirdly timed and destructive.

Geraldine Smith MP
A secret ballot is a coward's charter..this is a small group of people...they've been pulling these stunts for a year...I'm extremely disappointed

@anthonypainter
Even if there were to be a ballot, it would only have one outcome. So what's the point in this? Futile and damaging.

@shamikdas
the idea of a secret ballot, a secret f***ing ballot of 352 people to decide the fate of the PM?! This is Britain!

@TomBage
Miliband, Mandelson, Darling or Straw. If you have the bloodlust, now's your chance.

@conn1231
Is Hoon and Hewitt actually really are labour people shouldn't they be fighting for a fourth term instead of being morons...

@LukePollard
Agree RT @benmiskell: If we want a Tory govt this type of rubbish certainly helps. The time for a change in leader passed along time ago

@LukePollard
Plotting MPs would be looked on a lot better if they delivered some leaflets instead of calling the media. #Doorstepsnotdarkcorners

@BevaniteEllie
Makes a change that Hoon and Hewitt aren't both former ministers who are bitter Blairites. Oh wait...

@Kexugdale
Message to hoon & hewitt - that ship has sailed! If your plan was to undermine the hardwork of 1000s of activists your succeeding

@PhilipHonour
geoff hoon may well just have cost Labout the election, thanks for that...idiot.

@estellehart
If Geoff Hoon thinks you're doing a bad job surely you're doing something right

@RobNewman
Spectacularly bad timing by Hoon after excellent PMQs. Unless someone in the Govt joins this "rebellion" it's doomed before it even begins

@BenFolley
First sight of Blairite coup letter via Tory site. Says it all.

@Kevin_McGuire
Polls narrowing, Cameron wobbling, Brown wins PMQs. Hoon-Hewitt raise leadership. Labour has a death wish

@GabyHinsliff
anti-Brown plot breaks http://bit.ly/66oIfO love the idea that balloting MPs on ditching GB cd be done with 'minimum disruption'...

@Luke_cb
Geoff Hoon got me a VIP entrance into a Derby County football match back in 2000. And I liked Hewitt. Shame really.

By Sunder Katwala / @nextleft

It still seems likely that the moment of maximum danger for Gordon Brown's leadership of the Labour Party into the General Election was the evening of Thursday June 4th 2009 when James Purnell resigned from the Cabinet, as the polls closed in the local and European elections, and other Cabinet members declined to follow him.

That evening, several of the most credible members of the political commentariat declared that Brown could not survive, as set out in my dissenting post that night.

And this point from last June as to why those judgements were premature, seems to me to remain the central point today:

By Gus Baker

Until today, 2010 had gone pretty well for Labour. David Cameron's marriage proposals have crashed and burned. Economic news is getting better. A hard hitting attack on the Tory budget black hole has been highly successful. Our campaign was on the up.

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

UPDATE: Full letter to the PLP is below:

Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon are calling for a secret ballot within the Parliamentary Labour Party to determine the level of support for Gordon Brown's leadership amongst Labour MPs.

The letter says such a ballot would determine the leadership doubts "once and for all" - and either move forward with a new leader or allow Gordon Brown to lead Labour into the general election with a rallied party behind him.

The only way to resolve the issue of Brown's leadership, the letter says, is to allow every member of the PLP to "express their view".

For Brown's opponents, this is a much smarter way to try and determine the leadership issue than backstage plotting. Hoon and Hewitt are senoir figures who have not previously called or the PM's head - and this letter will force Brown and his supporters to act one way or the other. These new developments will bring the issue to a head.

But the point remains: if the asumption that the election will be held on May 6th is correct, and Brown is removed, a leadership bloodbath could ensue.

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear Colleague,

As we move towards a General Election it remains the case that the Parliamentary Labour Party is deeply divided over the question of the leadership. Many colleagues have expressed their frustration at the way in which this question is affecting our political performance. We have therefore come to the conclusion that the only way to resolve this issue would be to allow every member to express their view in a secret ballot.

This could be done quickly and with minimum disruption to the work of MPs and the Government. Whatever the outcome the whole of the party could then go forward, knowing that this matter had been sorted out once and for all.

Strong supporters of the Prime Minister should have no difficulty in backing this approach. There is a risk otherwise that the persistent background briefing and grumbling could continue up to and possibly through the election campaign, affecting our ability to concentrate all of our energies on getting our real message across.

Equally those who want change, should they lose such a vote, would be expected by the majority of the PLP to devote all of their efforts to winning the election. The implications of such a vote would be clear – everyone would be bound to support the result.

This is a clear opportunity to finally lay this matter to rest. The continued speculation and uncertainty is allowing our opponents to portray us as dispirited and disunited. It is damaging our ability to set out our strong case to the electorate. It is giving our political opponents an easy target.

In what will inevitably be a difficult and demanding election campaign, we must have a determined and united parliamentary party. It is our job to lead the fight against our political opponents. We can only do that if we resolve these distractions. We hope that you will support this proposal.

Yours fraternally,

Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt