Cabinet ministers have backed the Prime Minister after two senior MPs called for a secret vote on his leadership of the Labour Party. Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt have written to all members of the parliamentary party asking them to support a ballot on Gordon Brown’s leadership.

“As we move towards a General Election it remains the case that the Parliamentary Labour Party is deeply divided over the question of the leadership,” the ex-Cabinet ministers said.

“Many colleagues have expressed their frustration at the way in which this question is affecting our political performance.

“We have therefore come to the conclusion that the only way to resolve this issue would be to allow every member to express their view in a secret ballot.”

Foreign Secretary David Miliband was one of the last Cabinet ministers to come forward to back the Labour leader after the letter emerged.

He said: “I am working closely with the Prime Minister on foreign policy issues and support the re-election campaign for a Labour Government that he is leading.”

Sky’s Glen Oglaza described it as a “terse statement… hardly an unequivocal ringing endorsement”.

The Chancellor, Alistair Darling, said he and Mr Brown are focused on the business of government and would not be distracted.

“The Prime Minister and I met this afternoon and discussed how we would take foward economic policies to beat the recession,” he added.

Lord Mandelson, who is widely credited with saving Mr Brown’s leadership after an attempt to oust him last year, warned against “over-reacting” to the move.

“It is not led by members of the Government. No one has resigned from the Government,” a spokesman for the Business Secretary said.

“The Prime Minister continues to have the support of his colleagues and we should carry on government business as usual.”

Ed Miliband, the Energy and Climate Change secretary, said the “vast majority” of his colleagues support Mr Brown.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said also spoke out to insist while he respected Mr Hoon and Mrs Hewitt he disagreed with their actions.

Mr Brown remains “the best man for the job,” he added