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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brown hit by 'Chamberlain' attack | Brown hit by 'Chamberlain' attack |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown is the most unpopular PM since wartime leader Neville Chamberlain, one of the MPs calling for a Labour leadership contest has said. | Gordon Brown is the most unpopular PM since wartime leader Neville Chamberlain, one of the MPs calling for a Labour leadership contest has said. |
| Former minister George Howarth told BBC Two's Newsnight: "We can't allow that situation to continue." | Former minister George Howarth told BBC Two's Newsnight: "We can't allow that situation to continue." |
| On Tuesday, Scotland Office minister David Cairns quit, saying the time had come for a debate on the leadership. | On Tuesday, Scotland Office minister David Cairns quit, saying the time had come for a debate on the leadership. |
| But minister Shaun Woodward said voters would be "utterly bewildered" by the timing amid the global credit crisis. | But minister Shaun Woodward said voters would be "utterly bewildered" by the timing amid the global credit crisis. |
| Norway invasion | Norway invasion |
| Mr Howarth said of Mr Brown: "He's so unpopular that no one can remember a time since Neville Chamberlain, after Hitler invaded Norway, that anyone was so unpopular. And we can't allow that situation to continue." | Mr Howarth said of Mr Brown: "He's so unpopular that no one can remember a time since Neville Chamberlain, after Hitler invaded Norway, that anyone was so unpopular. And we can't allow that situation to continue." |
| He said that the timing of the revolt against the prime minister was "in many ways appalling" but said that "wasn't of our making". | He said that the timing of the revolt against the prime minister was "in many ways appalling" but said that "wasn't of our making". |
| "I didn't leak the letters that said we wanted a leadership contest. Others who did that may have to answer for their actions at some point in the future," he said. | "I didn't leak the letters that said we wanted a leadership contest. Others who did that may have to answer for their actions at some point in the future," he said. |
| Mr Howarth denied that a plot to unseat Mr Brown was under way, insisting that he had not known Mr Cairns was planning to resign. | Mr Howarth denied that a plot to unseat Mr Brown was under way, insisting that he had not known Mr Cairns was planning to resign. |
| Mr Woodward told Newsnight: "We are not interested in having a debate in society about the leadership right now. | Mr Woodward told Newsnight: "We are not interested in having a debate in society about the leadership right now. |
| "What we are into is allowing the man who became leader of our party and prime minister last year to get on with the job." | "What we are into is allowing the man who became leader of our party and prime minister last year to get on with the job." |
| David Cairns explains his decision to resign from government | David Cairns explains his decision to resign from government |
| Mr Cairns, the MP for Inverclyde, is the first minister to resign since rebel MPs began calling for a leadership contest. | Mr Cairns, the MP for Inverclyde, is the first minister to resign since rebel MPs began calling for a leadership contest. |
| In a letter to Mr Brown, Mr Cairns said: "The issue of leadership and direction are being discussed and argued over, and to go on denying it is hardly credible. I wish it were otherwise. | In a letter to Mr Brown, Mr Cairns said: "The issue of leadership and direction are being discussed and argued over, and to go on denying it is hardly credible. I wish it were otherwise. |
| "To that end, I believe that the time has come to take the bull by the horns and allow a leadership debate to run its course." | "To that end, I believe that the time has come to take the bull by the horns and allow a leadership debate to run its course." |
| Labour's ruling National Executive Committee has rejected calls for leadership nomination papers to be sent out to all the party's MPs. | Labour's ruling National Executive Committee has rejected calls for leadership nomination papers to be sent out to all the party's MPs. |
| Unity call | Unity call |
| Mr Cairns said he had tried to advise rebel Labour MPs against requesting nomination forms and was unhappy that their names had been leaked. | Mr Cairns said he had tried to advise rebel Labour MPs against requesting nomination forms and was unhappy that their names had been leaked. |
| Mr Brown told Mr Cairns he was "disappointed" by his decision to leave the government. | Mr Brown told Mr Cairns he was "disappointed" by his decision to leave the government. |
| The PM said: "I do not agree with you that this is the time at which the Labour Party should be focused on internal debates." | The PM said: "I do not agree with you that this is the time at which the Labour Party should be focused on internal debates." |
| Cabinet ministers such as Alan Johnson and Harriet Harman have rallied round Mr Brown and urged party unity. | Cabinet ministers such as Alan Johnson and Harriet Harman have rallied round Mr Brown and urged party unity. |
| Justice Secretary Jack Straw said he was "absolutely clear" Mr Brown was the man to lead the country through current difficulties. | Justice Secretary Jack Straw said he was "absolutely clear" Mr Brown was the man to lead the country through current difficulties. |