Brown briefs "against himself"

Brown briefs “against himself”.
Downing Street sources last night confirmed that the Prime Minister was responsible for recent behind the scenes briefings against the Prime Minister. In the last fortnight speculation had grown as to the identity of the “senior Minister” responsible for describing Gordon Brown as “vain”, “paranoid” and “out of touch”. It now turns out that the Minister in question was Mr Brown himself, frustrated at his unwillingness to vacate Downing Street in favour of himself.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told this newspaper: “The trouble started last week when a senior Labour backbencher was heard to remark that the Prime Minister was his own worst enemy. The Chief Whip overheard the remark and reported it to the Prime Minister who subsequently decided to undermine himself.”
The source further expressed frustration that the briefings had taken place against a good week for the government, in which no meteor had struck the Home Counties and the polls had narrowed from 12 points behind to 12 points behind.