Gordon Brown to step down as party leader but stay on as PM?

London, Dec. 26 (ANI): A proposal has reportedly been discussed among senior Labour Party figures that requires Gordon Brown to step down as the party leader in the new year but stay on as Prime Minister until the General Election.

This move, senior party leaders believe, would boost Labour's election prospects, while saving him from humiliation. Some ministers favour the idea and supporters want Brown to announce it in January, the Daily Express reports.

The paper further says that a new leader would be chosen in February. The successor would take part in planned live TV debates with David Cameron and Nick Clegg in place of Brown.

However, Brown's supporters have quashed the idea as "mad", particularly when the Tories' poll lead appears to have been narrowing.

Some even termed it "festive nonsense".

"It sounds too clever by half but I wouldn't entirely rule it out," they added. (ANI)