Brown coup talk finds little favour in Bedford

By Tim Castle

BEDFORD, England (Reuters) - Talk of a parliamentary plot to remove Gordon Brown as Britain's prime minister and replace him with a cabinet rival was greeted with little enthusiasm by voters in the English city of Bedford Thursday.

People emerging from polling booths for local and European elections in the leafy city 45 miles (70 km) north of London said changing the leader of the Labour government was not the solution for Britain's political and economic woes.

They said Brown should instead either call a national election now or hang on in office till the end of his government's term next summer.

Brown's position is looking precarious after two government ministers announced they were quitting before an imminent cabinet reshuffle designed to restore his government's standing after what is expected to be a drubbing in Thursday's polls.

"The place is in such a mess he needs to stay and try and sort it out, changing now wouldn't help," said former university lecturer Peter Higginbottom, 55.

Reports said up to 75 Labour members of parliament (MPs) -- around a fifth of the total -- were ready to sign a letter calling on Brown to go although none had been identified yet.

Despite media speculation on who might succeed Brown if he quit, voters in Bedford, regarded by some as a political bellwether of the national mood, struggled to name any cabinet rival who would be an improvement as premier.

"I don't think Gordon Brown is an effective prime minister, but I really can't think of anybody who could take his place," said retired retail manager William Sharpe, 60.