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Brown hit by 'Chamberlain' attack Rebels keep up pressure on Brown
(40 minutes 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. Pressure continues on Prime Minister Gordon Brown following the resignation of one of his ministers amid demands for a leadership contest.
Former minister George Howarth told BBC Two's Newsnight: "We can't allow that situation to continue." George Howarth, one of the rebels calling for a contest, said he was the most unpopular prime minister since wartime leader Neville Chamberlain.
On Tuesday, Scotland Office minister David Cairns quit, saying the time had come for a debate on the leadership. He told BBC Two's Newsnight: "We can't allow that situation to continue."
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 On Tuesday, Scotland Office minister David Cairns quit, saying the time had come for a debate on the leadership.
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." Timing 'appalling'
Mr Howarth, a former minister, 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.
David Cairns explains his decision to resign from government
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. Cabinet Office minister Phil Hope told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Mr Howarth's comments were "extraordinary" and he was a "bit puzzled" by the rebels' stance at a time the government needed to concentrate on the economy.
He added: "I hope there won't be more resignations. I hope people will stop distracting us from the task in hand, which is to respond to the real problems people are facing in our constituencies up and down the country."
Plot denied
Northern Ireland Secretary 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 I do not agree with you that this is the time at which the Labour Party should be focused on internal debates Gordon Brown to David Cairns
Mr Cairns, the MP for Inverclyde, is the first minister to resign since rebel MPs began calling for a leadership contest. The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson, said calls for a leadership contest were being echoed, in private, up to cabinet level and there were some cabinet ministers who believed Mr Brown had to go.
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. But he added there was a big difference between talk and action and Mr Brown could survive as long as no major figure stood against him.
"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." Mr Cairns, the MP for Inverclyde, is the first minister to resign since rebel MPs began calling for a leadership contest last week.
Labour's ruling National Executive Committee has rejected calls for leadership nomination papers to be sent out to all the party's MPs. But he denied being part of a plot and said he had tried to advise rebel Labour rebels against requesting nomination forms for a leadership contest. Labour's ruling National Executive Committee has refused the request.
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 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." In a letter, 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 including Alan Johnson, Jack Straw, Alistair Darling 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.