A damaging new rift has opened up between Gordon Brown and Alan Johnson after it emerged that the Home Secretary tore up a key government policy without consulting Downing Street. By Patrick Hennessy and Melissa Kite Alan Johnson: plotting to oust Gordon Brwon at the autumn party conference Photo: PA Mr Johnson stunned the Prime Minister and his senior advisers by declaring that holding an identity card would never be compulsory for British citizens. The Sunday Telegraph has established that Number 10 had no idea that the Home Secretary would arbitrarily change the previous policy – that ministers would legislate to make ID cards compulsory once a certain proportion of the population held them. The friction between the two men has led to renewed fears among key allies of Mr Brown that Mr Johnson – promoted to Home Secretary... [read full story]
