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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Rebels keep up pressure on Brown | Rebels keep up pressure on Brown |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Pressure continues on Prime Minister Gordon Brown following the resignation of one of his ministers amid demands for a leadership contest. | Pressure continues on Prime Minister Gordon Brown following the resignation of one of his ministers amid demands for a leadership contest. |
| George Howarth, one of the rebels calling for a contest, said he was the most unpopular prime minister since wartime leader Neville Chamberlain. | George Howarth, one of the rebels calling for a contest, said he was the most unpopular prime minister since wartime leader Neville Chamberlain. |
| He told BBC Two's Newsnight: "We can't allow that situation to continue." | 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. |
| 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. |
| Timing 'appalling' | 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." | 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 | 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. |
| 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. | 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." | 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 | Plot denied |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Woodward told Newsnight: "We are not interested in having a debate in society about the leadership right now. | 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." |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Mr Cairns, the MP for Inverclyde, is the first minister to resign since rebel MPs began calling for a leadership contest last week. | Mr Cairns, the MP for Inverclyde, is the first minister to resign since rebel MPs began calling for a leadership contest last week. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| 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." | 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 including Alan Johnson, Jack Straw, Alistair Darling 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. |