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Whip out of job after leader call Whip sacked over leader bid call
(about 1 hour later)
A junior member of the government is out of a job after breaking ranks to call for a challenge to Gordon Brown as party leader. A junior member of the government has been sacked after breaking ranks to call for a challenge to Gordon Brown as party leader.
Government whip Siobhain McDonagh said she wanted to "clear the air" about the leadership issue. Assistant whip Siobhain McDonagh said she wanted a debate about the party's future and a "huge number" of other Labour MPs also wanted a contest.
A government spokesman said that if Ms McDonagh has not resigned then she will be sacked. The source said her replacement had already been appointed. A government spokesman said Ms McDonagh would be sacked and her replacement had already been appointed.
The source said Ms McDonagh had always been "Anti-Gordon". He added that she had always been "Anti-Gordon".
Ms McDonagh - who was the only member of the government not to nominate Mr Brown for the party leadership last year - said she wanted a debate about the future of the party. Ms McDonagh - who was the only member of the government not to nominate Mr Brown for the party leadership last year - said she wanted a debate about the future of the party and the country.
She said "everybody" in government is talking about the leadership issue and she wanted such discussions to be out in the open. Debate call
"It's about time we let party members and people involved in the Labour Party and the wider community in on that debate," she told the BBC News Channel She said "everybody" in government was talking about the leadership issue and she wanted such discussions to be out in the open.
"It's about time we let party members and people involved in the Labour Party and the wider community in on that debate," she told the BBC News Channel.
I think Gordon Brown is a really good man who has the best of intentions - I just think that being prime minster is a shockingly hard job Siobaihn McDonald
"I think we need to clear the air. I think whoever wants to stand for leader of the Labour Party should do so and we should have a good debate about the direction of the party and the government.""I think we need to clear the air. I think whoever wants to stand for leader of the Labour Party should do so and we should have a good debate about the direction of the party and the government."
She said she did not have a particular candidate in mind. She insisted that she did not have a particular candidate in mind.
She is so far the only member of the government to publicly call for a leadership contest. But she told BBC Radio 4's PM "a huge number of Labour MPs want a leadership election".
She is also thought to be among the Labour MPs to have sought details about the nomination process for a contest. 'Shockingly hard'
It would take 70 MPs to trigger a potential leadership contest. She refused to say whether she would back Gordon Brown or another candidate in a contest.
Asked if Mr Brown had done a good job since taking over, she said: "I think Gordon Brown is a really good man who has the best of intentions. I just think that being prime minster is a shockingly hard job."
Asked whether she felt he was "shockingly bad" at it, she said not.
Ms McDonagh is so far the only member of the government to publicly call for a leadership contest.
She is also among a small group of Labour MPs to have sought details about the nomination process for a contest.
She told PM she had written to Labour's general secretary in confidence to ask for nomination papers but had been forced to go public with her concerns after being contacted by a journalist.
'Destruction'
Labour confirmed they have had letters from a "small number" of MPs asking why no nomination papers for leader were issued ahead of the party conference.Labour confirmed they have had letters from a "small number" of MPs asking why no nomination papers for leader were issued ahead of the party conference.
It would take 70 MPs to trigger a potential leadership contest.
Labour MP Emily Thornberry mounted a defence of Mr Brown's premiership on PM, saying the public would not "respect" Ms McDonagh for her call.
And the reason no alternative candidate had come forward to challenge Mr Brown is that he was "best qualified" to steer the country through difficult economic times.
Backbencher Graham Stringer was the first Labour MP to call for Mr Brown to step down, after the party's defeat at the Crewe and Nantwich by-election in May.Backbencher Graham Stringer was the first Labour MP to call for Mr Brown to step down, after the party's defeat at the Crewe and Nantwich by-election in May.
And former Home Secretary Charles Clarke last week warned the party faced "destruction" at the next general election - and told Mr Brown to improve his performance or quit.And former Home Secretary Charles Clarke last week warned the party faced "destruction" at the next general election - and told Mr Brown to improve his performance or quit.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband made what was widely interpreted as a leadership move when he penned an article over the summer on Labour's future without mentioning Mr Brown.Foreign Secretary David Miliband made what was widely interpreted as a leadership move when he penned an article over the summer on Labour's future without mentioning Mr Brown.
But he has now publicly backed the prime minister to lead Labour into the next election.But he has now publicly backed the prime minister to lead Labour into the next election.
Other figures thought likely to run if there was a contest - Jack Straw and Harriet Harman - have also said they do not think there should be a contest.Other figures thought likely to run if there was a contest - Jack Straw and Harriet Harman - have also said they do not think there should be a contest.
But Ms McDonagh's intervention means the issue is likely to dominate Labour's annual conference which gets underway in Manchester in two weeks time.But Ms McDonagh's intervention means the issue is likely to dominate Labour's annual conference which gets underway in Manchester in two weeks time.