This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8098425.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Mandelson warns PM of more plots Mandelson warns PM of more plots
(about 8 hours later)
Lord Mandelson has warned that Gordon Brown will face a further challenge to his leadership this autumn. Lord Mandelson has warned that Gordon Brown could face a further challenge to his leadership in the future.
The business secretary said opposition to Mr Brown was likely to re-emerge in September when Labour gathers in Brighton for its annual conference. The business secretary told the Daily Telegraph that opposition to Mr Brown could re-emerge, and some Labour MPs would not be "reconciled" to him as PM.
Lord Mandelson told the Daily Telegraph that there is a group of Labour MPs who will not be reconciled to the prime minister's leadership. Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary David Miliband has admitted he considered resigning at the same time as his former cabinet colleague James Purnell.
But he said he would not "lose any sleep" over the threat they posed. He told the Guardian he discussed his decision with Lord Mandelson.
He told the paper: "There's a small group who keep coming back...they wouldn't have voted for him in the first place." 'Serious ruction'
Serious ruction The business secretary, who was last week given the additional title of first secretary of state, said he would not "lose any sleep" over the threat posed by those Labour MPs who opposed Mr Brown's leadership of the party.
Lord Mandelson, who was last week given the additional title of first secretary of state, is widely credited with helping Mr Brown see off the challenge to his leadership. He told the paper: "There's a small group who keep coming back... they wouldn't have voted for him in the first place."
In the interview he acknowledged that a string of ministerial resignations, including that of the former Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell, caused "a serious ruction".In the interview he acknowledged that a string of ministerial resignations, including that of the former Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell, caused "a serious ruction".
But he praised Gordon Brown's leadership, saying: "I couldn't work for somebody as I do for Gordon if I didn't believe in them and respect them."But he praised Gordon Brown's leadership, saying: "I couldn't work for somebody as I do for Gordon if I didn't believe in them and respect them."
He suggested three priorities for Mr Brown going forward: a greater focus on the economy, public service reforms, and delivering "people power" over services such as health and education. In a separate interview in the Guardian, David Miliband said he discussed his decision about whether to resign with Lord Mandelson.
Saying he was open to political and constitutional reform, he nevertheless sounded a note of caution: "Reconnection is needed between the political system and the public but I don't believe any single change will achieve that." The foreign secretary said he had made up his mind to stay on the day of the local and European elections.
He said: "I'd made my decision on Thursday... sometimes you can make your decisions with great planning and calculation and sometimes you have to make them rather more quickly."
And although he reached a different conclusion, Mr Miliband said he respected the decision the former work and pensions secretary, Mr Purnell, had taken.
"James made his decision in good faith; I made my decision in good faith," Mr Miliband told the paper.
'Fight of its life'
In the interview, Mr Miliband admitted that the question of the party's leadership arouses passionate feelings.
"This divides people who are close and people feel passionately one way and people feel passionately the other way."
But the foreign secretary said it was important now that the Labour party sets out what it, and Gordon Brown, stands for.
He admitted the task in front of the party is huge following the local and European election results and said it had "the fight of [its] life on [its] hands."
But he added: "The government is much stronger for Peter at the heart of it."
Lord Mandelson is widely credited with helping Mr Brown see off the challenge to his leadership.
In his interview, the business secretary suggested three priorities for Mr Brown going forward: a greater focus on the economy, public service reforms, and delivering "people power" over services such as health and education.
He also spoke about his own ideas of what makes a good leader.He also spoke about his own ideas of what makes a good leader.
He said: "I believe in leadership and in being decisive. Secondly, in listening to people and respecting official advice you receive. And thirdly, introducing a bit of humour and jollity to your work.He said: "I believe in leadership and in being decisive. Secondly, in listening to people and respecting official advice you receive. And thirdly, introducing a bit of humour and jollity to your work.
''You don't have to be too grey or serious the whole time. You can do your work and enjoy it at the same time and include people along the way."''You don't have to be too grey or serious the whole time. You can do your work and enjoy it at the same time and include people along the way."