Gordon Brown got through his most testing press conference ordeal since he became leader by taking the issue of David Abraham's disguised donations head-on.

He strode into the room and, before taking a single question, he announced the money would be paid back because it had not been lawfully declared, insisted he had known nothing about it until Saturday, admitted he had met Mr Abrahams but not talked about donations, and set up a full inquiry into the affair under a former bishop and retired judge. He also announced that one of the "middle persons" involved had offered his leadership campaign money and it had been turned down.

But Mr Brown was unable to do anything other than buy himself a little time. Even as the press conference proceeded new doubts emerged, and there was a question mark over Harriet Harman, the Labour chairman.

She admitted that she had accepted money from Janet Kidd in good faith for her deputy leadership campaign. But another deputy leadership candidate, Hilary Benn, said that he was offered money by the same woman, and turned it down.

What was even more extraordinary was that he did so because Lady Jay, daughter of the former prime minister James Callaghan and one of his supporters, told him not to accept it because it really came from Mr Abrahams. If Lady Jay knew that why did not anyone else - apart from the hapless Peter Watt, now the former general secretary of the Labour Party?

It was an uncomfortable ordeal for Mr Brown. He did not make any serious attempt to move on to other subjects and happily grasped questions from reporters interested in other matters.

Mr Brown returned from Uganda at the weekend determined to make a fresh start after an appalling two weeks. His relaunch was holed before it even got under way. He must wonder whether it can get any worse.

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