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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Cabinet meets after ballot plot | Cabinet meets after ballot plot |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The cabinet has met for the first time since two former ministers attempted to force a ballot on Gordon Brown's future as Labour leader. | |
| He has dismissed Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon's actions as a "storm in a teacup", but there has been speculation about his colleagues' support for him. | He has dismissed Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon's actions as a "storm in a teacup", but there has been speculation about his colleagues' support for him. |
| The cabinet meeting had been due to take place in Exeter on Tuesday. | The cabinet meeting had been due to take place in Exeter on Tuesday. |
| But bad weather meant it had to be delayed and took place in Downing Street, as normal. | |
| On Wednesday Mr Hoon, the former chief whip and defence secretary, and Ms Hewitt, the former health secretary, wrote to Labour MPs and peers suggesting a secret ballot on the Labour leadership. | On Wednesday Mr Hoon, the former chief whip and defence secretary, and Ms Hewitt, the former health secretary, wrote to Labour MPs and peers suggesting a secret ballot on the Labour leadership. |
| Hoon meeting | Hoon meeting |
| However, no current minister offered their backing and the plan appeared to come to nothing. | However, no current minister offered their backing and the plan appeared to come to nothing. |
| Some cabinet members were accused of responding too slowly and issuing only lukewarm expressions of support for the prime minister in the immediate aftermath. | Some cabinet members were accused of responding too slowly and issuing only lukewarm expressions of support for the prime minister in the immediate aftermath. |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband, seen by many as a potential successor, responded almost seven hours after news of the call for a leadership ballot broke. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband, seen by many as a potential successor, responded almost seven hours after news of the call for a leadership ballot broke. |
| The cabinet meeting was postponed when a tour of south-west England by cabinet members had to be cancelled because of the weather. | The cabinet meeting was postponed when a tour of south-west England by cabinet members had to be cancelled because of the weather. |
| Mr Hoon is facing Labour Party bosses in his constituency of Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, over the bid to force a secret ballot of Labour MPs and peers on Mr Brown's leadership. | Mr Hoon is facing Labour Party bosses in his constituency of Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, over the bid to force a secret ballot of Labour MPs and peers on Mr Brown's leadership. |
| John Knight, the leader of Ashfield District Council, said activists were "shocked and disappointed" at his involvement and keen to pose "pertinent questions". | John Knight, the leader of Ashfield District Council, said activists were "shocked and disappointed" at his involvement and keen to pose "pertinent questions". |
| Ms Hewitt is standing down as an MP at the next general election. | Ms Hewitt is standing down as an MP at the next general election. |