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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Ex-minister seeks Labour contest | Ex-minister seeks Labour contest |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Former Labour minister Fiona Mactaggart has said that another MP should be allowed to stand for the party leadership against Gordon Brown. | Former Labour minister Fiona Mactaggart has said that another MP should be allowed to stand for the party leadership against Gordon Brown. |
| Ms Mactaggart told the BBC's Politics Show: "I think we should give someone else a chance to take over." | Ms Mactaggart told the BBC's Politics Show: "I think we should give someone else a chance to take over." |
| She is one of over a dozen Labour MPs calling for a leadership contest. | She is one of over a dozen Labour MPs calling for a leadership contest. |
| Her comments come after another MP, Joan Ryan, was sacked as Labour's vice chair after joining calls for a leadership contest. | Her comments come after another MP, Joan Ryan, was sacked as Labour's vice chair after joining calls for a leadership contest. |
| Ms Ryan, MP for Enfield North and a former Home Office minister, has also been sacked as Mr Brown's Cyprus envoy - a position she was given when he entered Number 10 in June last year. | Ms Ryan, MP for Enfield North and a former Home Office minister, has also been sacked as Mr Brown's Cyprus envoy - a position she was given when he entered Number 10 in June last year. |
| On Friday, junior whip Siobhain McDonagh was fired for calling for a debate on Gordon Brown's leadership. | On Friday, junior whip Siobhain McDonagh was fired for calling for a debate on Gordon Brown's leadership. |
| Ministers say it is not the time for a challenge to Gordon Brown - nor for a public debate about the future of the party. | Ministers say it is not the time for a challenge to Gordon Brown - nor for a public debate about the future of the party. |
| 'Tory agenda' | 'Tory agenda' |
| But speaking to the BBC Ms Mactaggart said she made her request for the papers to be sent out at the end of August. | But speaking to the BBC Ms Mactaggart said she made her request for the papers to be sent out at the end of August. |
| She said: "The problem that I see is a lack of clarity about our ambitions for Britain. | She said: "The problem that I see is a lack of clarity about our ambitions for Britain. |
| Harriet Harman defends Gordon Brown's leadership | Harriet Harman defends Gordon Brown's leadership |
| "When you look at the Conservatives, everything they do is a reaction to an agenda that we set, and yet suddenly, recently, we've been reacting to their issues. We don't need to." | "When you look at the Conservatives, everything they do is a reaction to an agenda that we set, and yet suddenly, recently, we've been reacting to their issues. We don't need to." |
| Entering the row Labour MP John McDonnell - who has long been urging a leadership election - described current Labour infighting as "like watching the crew having a punch up on the deck of the Titanic". | Entering the row Labour MP John McDonnell - who has long been urging a leadership election - described current Labour infighting as "like watching the crew having a punch up on the deck of the Titanic". |
| The MP for Hayes and Harlington said: "Most Labour Party members are looking on aghast as the Blairites and Brownites fight an irrelevant turf war." | The MP for Hayes and Harlington said: "Most Labour Party members are looking on aghast as the Blairites and Brownites fight an irrelevant turf war." |
| The Labour Party has said nine MPs have so far asked for nomination papers to be issued to all members of the parliamentary party - five of these have now made their names public. | The Labour Party has said nine MPs have so far asked for nomination papers to be issued to all members of the parliamentary party - five of these have now made their names public. |
| Former Home Office minister George Howarth admitted requesting nomination papers to be sent out. | Former Home Office minister George Howarth admitted requesting nomination papers to be sent out. |
| Writing in the News of the World, he said: "Sadly, every test of public opinion shows that people seem to have decided Gordon is not the person they want to lead the country. | Writing in the News of the World, he said: "Sadly, every test of public opinion shows that people seem to have decided Gordon is not the person they want to lead the country. |
| "I am not sure whether Gordon can regain the public's trust and confidence. | "I am not sure whether Gordon can regain the public's trust and confidence. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Brown is unlucky to have taken power when the world economy was collapsing LJ Hamilton, GlasgowSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Brown is unlucky to have taken power when the world economy was collapsing LJ Hamilton, GlasgowSend us your comments |
| "The best way of testing that is through a leadership contest. If Gordon were to win that contest, he would emerge stronger. Either way it would give the government a fresh start." | "The best way of testing that is through a leadership contest. If Gordon were to win that contest, he would emerge stronger. Either way it would give the government a fresh start." |
| Ms McDonagh, also writing in the News of the World, called Mr Brown a "brilliant chancellor" but believed that a "proper debate" was needed. | Ms McDonagh, also writing in the News of the World, called Mr Brown a "brilliant chancellor" but believed that a "proper debate" was needed. |
| She wrote: "I'm convinced he would have been a better leader if there had been a proper leadership election last year with other strong candidates." | She wrote: "I'm convinced he would have been a better leader if there had been a proper leadership election last year with other strong candidates." |
| Several more Labour MPs are expected to air their views in the next few days. | Several more Labour MPs are expected to air their views in the next few days. |
| 'Error of judgement' | 'Error of judgement' |
| BBC political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said: "With just seven days until the party's conference, there is no doubt Labour is in a flux." | BBC political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said: "With just seven days until the party's conference, there is no doubt Labour is in a flux." |
| But there have also been a string of MPs loyal to Mr Brown dismissing the actions of those calling for a leadership election. | But there have also been a string of MPs loyal to Mr Brown dismissing the actions of those calling for a leadership election. |
| Junior minister Kevin Brennan told BBC News some of his colleagues were taking the "wrong" course of action. He said: "It is not what the party needs and it is not what the country needs really". | |
| Labour's deputy leader, Harriet Harman, has also criticised Labour MPs seeking a leadership contest. | Labour's deputy leader, Harriet Harman, has also criticised Labour MPs seeking a leadership contest. |
| "I think it is an error of judgement," she said. | "I think it is an error of judgement," she said. |
| "I think people would expect the party of government to be focused on taking us through difficult economic times and protecting those at risk." | "I think people would expect the party of government to be focused on taking us through difficult economic times and protecting those at risk." |
| Labour MP for Dagenham John Cruddas dismissed the calls for a leadership election as an indulgent sideshow that would do nothing but harm to the party. | Labour MP for Dagenham John Cruddas dismissed the calls for a leadership election as an indulgent sideshow that would do nothing but harm to the party. |
| Mr Cruddas - who ran for the deputy party leadership last year - said those seeking a challenge to Mr Brown were "delusional". | Mr Cruddas - who ran for the deputy party leadership last year - said those seeking a challenge to Mr Brown were "delusional". |
| The party's general secretary Ray Collins has rejected the MPs' call for nomination papers to be sent out to all MPs - saying that under party rules he is not required to do so. | The party's general secretary Ray Collins has rejected the MPs' call for nomination papers to be sent out to all MPs - saying that under party rules he is not required to do so. |
| The party's annual conference starts in Manchester next weekend. | The party's annual conference starts in Manchester next weekend. |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said Britain was "watching the death throes of the Labour Party". | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said Britain was "watching the death throes of the Labour Party". |
| Tory frontbencher Chris Grayling said: "Gordon Brown should sort this out once and for all by calling an early General Election." | Tory frontbencher Chris Grayling said: "Gordon Brown should sort this out once and for all by calling an early General Election." |