by political editor Paul Francis

A call by two former Labour cabinet ministers for a secret ballot on Gordon Brown’s leadership has been described as "completely mad" by a Kent backbencher.

Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Derek Wyatt, who is standing down at the next election, said the call was unnecessary and he disputed the claim that there were doubts in Labour ranks over whether Mr Brown should continue.

"It [the ballot] is completely mad. I do not think that you have a leadership election just when you have launched an election campaign."

He added that the former defence minister Geoff Hoon and health secretary Patricia Hewitt were wrong to claim there was unease over Mr Brown’s leadership.

In a letter, the pair called on Labour MPs to back a secret ballot to set the matter to rest once and for all.

Mr Wyatt said: "They are wrong. They had a chance to do this after the local elections when they could have made a challenge."

That was echoed by Dover MP Gwyn Prosser, who accused the pair of arrogance and trying to sow the seeds of dissent that would topple Mr Brown.

He admitted: "It is damaging and they [Hewitt and Hoon] should know it. Geoff Hoon was chief whip and and has often preached to me and other backbenchers the virtue of loyalty on issues of Government policy. It is just arrogance."

He added: "They are trying to tell us that this is nothing to do with unseating Gordon and will clear the issue up before the election. It is doomed to fail."

In their letter, the former cabinet minister write that a ballot could be done "quickly and with minimum disruption" and would allow the party to "go forward".

The move is a serious blow to Labour as even if the ballot does not take place it will raise questions over Mr Brown.