Labour backbenchers in the county have rallied behind Gordon Brown as the prime minister continues to face questions about his leadership and demands from rebels to quit.

Chatham and Aylesford MP Jonathan Shaw, a junior minister, said: "I don’t think this is welcome and I don’t think it is wise. But I think this will peter out in a relatively short period of time. I am confident the leader will give an effective speech at the party conference and silence his critics.”

Former minister and Thanet MP Dr Steve Ladyman delivered a withering assault on the rebels.

He said: "They would be better off concentrating on their own work in their constituencies. It is just not helpful at all. Even if they do feel that way, they should do it privately."

He accused the rebels of undermining the party’s efforts to relaunch itself at the forthcoming party conference. However, he said the Government should act to soften the impact of fuel prices by giving vulnerable people money to subsidise bills.

"If we could have gone into conference in a bouyant mood and come out of it in good form, maybe we could start to turn things around. These rebels have undermined that."

Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Derek Wyatt said a leadership election would be political suicide but called for tax cuts in the budget to help boost the economy.

He said: "Our duty must be to protect our citizens first and not conduct a campaign against the PM whatever we might think privately.

"The pre budget report must restore business confidence by reducing tax. All but the very rich are paying too much tax and some knowledge that this too will be reduced would also boost the economy."

Gillingham MP Mr Clark blasted the rebels as self-indulgent.

"Those MPs calling for a leadership election want to concentrate on what they were elected to do, that is represent their constituents and help hard working families," he said.

Dover MP Gywn Prosser said there was no question that Mr Brown should stay. "I nominated Gordon Brown to be prime minister because he was the best man for the job and he still is. I will be supporting him all the way to the general election."