Gordon Brown said mulling resignation

LONDON, June 21 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown may agree to step down before the next general election to give the Labor Party a better chance, sources say.

Unnamed Labor Party insiders told The Mail on Sunday that officials are discussing a scenario in which Brown, trailing badly in opinion polls and enduring defections from his Cabinet, would leave Downing Street early next year with a successor to be chosen shortly thereafter, presumably to give the party a better chance against Conservative Party leader David Cameron.

"There are many advantages for him and the party in taking this course," said an unnamed Labor Party member of Parliament. "Assuming the economy is on the mend, Gordon can say that he has done what he said he would do, which is to get us through the worst of the recession. He should also be able to say that he has sorted out the mess of MPs' expenses and brought in important changes to the Constitution."

In that way, the unnamed MP said, Brown's legacy would remain intact, and would give him a chance to say "it is right to hand over to a new leader who will have time to set out his or her stall for the election."