ALAN Milburn has reignited his battle with Gordon Brown by warning the Labour Party has no plan to defeat the growing threat of the Conservatives.

In a magazine article, the Darlington MP and former Cabinet minister said "fresh ideas" were needed to meet the challenge posed by David Cameron.

But he wrote: "Right now, it is hard to discern what our plan is to meet the challenge of the next ten years.

"To win again, Labour needs to renew - intellectually, politically, organisationally. That cannot happen behind closed doors. It requires an open, inclusive debate about our future policy direction."

Although Mr Milburn did not mention Mr Brown by name, only the Chancellor - the overwhelming favourite to succeed Tony Blair - has attempted to set out a policy agenda for the years ahead.

Furthermore, his comments came amid suggestions of a last-gasp plot by leading Blairites to persuade South Shields MP David Miliband to take on the Chancellor in the leadership campaign.

When the Prime Minister announces his resignation, Labour MPs will be able to declare their support for a candidate in updates on the party's website.

Blairites hope the "write-in" campaign will demonstrate the backing for Mr Miliband among MPs, without the Environment Secretary having to declare his candidature until the last minute.

So far, Mr Miliband has insisted he will not be "seduced" into standing by the calls for him to do so, fearing it would split the party and end in likely defeat.

Two months ago, Mr Milburn and former Home Secretary Charles Clarke launched a website to debate Labour's future.

Subsequently, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain accused some unnamed Labour MPs of a "subliminal desire to see David Cameron take over, rather than Gordon Brown".

So far, only John McDonnell and Michael Meacher have said they will seek the 45 nominations needed to challenge Mr Brown.