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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Leadership plot over, admits Hoon | Leadership plot over, admits Hoon |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Former minister Geoff Hoon has admitted his push for a secret ballot on Gordon Brown's leadership "is over". | Former minister Geoff Hoon has admitted his push for a secret ballot on Gordon Brown's leadership "is over". |
| But he told the BBC he did not regret sending a letter to all Labour MPs calling for a vote on the issue. | But he told the BBC he did not regret sending a letter to all Labour MPs calling for a vote on the issue. |
| No government minister voiced support for the ballot, proposed by former defence secretary Mr Hoon and former health secretary Patricia Hewitt. | No government minister voiced support for the ballot, proposed by former defence secretary Mr Hoon and former health secretary Patricia Hewitt. |
| Mr Brown has called it a "storm in a teacup", despite speculation about his level of support among colleagues. | Mr Brown has called it a "storm in a teacup", despite speculation about his level of support among colleagues. |
| The cabinet met on Friday for the first time since the letter - calling for a secret MPs' ballot on the Labour Party leadership - was sent out on Wednesday. | The cabinet met on Friday for the first time since the letter - calling for a secret MPs' ballot on the Labour Party leadership - was sent out on Wednesday. |
| 'Pertinent questions' | 'Pertinent questions' |
| Mr Brown's spokesman said he had made no reference to it during the 90-minute session. | Mr Brown's spokesman said he had made no reference to it during the 90-minute session. |
| Mr Hoon faces a meeting of Labour members in his constituency of Ashford, Nottinghamshire, later. | Mr Hoon faces a meeting of Labour members in his constituency of Ashford, Nottinghamshire, later. |
| 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". |
| I think it's probably over. I accept that we made that opportunity and we don't appear to have succeeded Geoff Hoon | I think it's probably over. I accept that we made that opportunity and we don't appear to have succeeded Geoff Hoon |
| Mr Hoon told the BBC that Labour "thrives on political debate" adding: "He's entitled to his view and I'm entitled to mine." | Mr Hoon told the BBC that Labour "thrives on political debate" adding: "He's entitled to his view and I'm entitled to mine." |
| Asked why he had sent out the letter, he replied: "I think it is critical that the Labour Party goes into the general election with a very clear view of what we stand for and that that message can get across. | Asked why he had sent out the letter, he replied: "I think it is critical that the Labour Party goes into the general election with a very clear view of what we stand for and that that message can get across. |
| "And too often in recent months that message has been lost in all the noise about the leadership... | "And too often in recent months that message has been lost in all the noise about the leadership... |
| "Our aim was simply to resolve this matter once and for all." | "Our aim was simply to resolve this matter once and for all." |
| On the campaign for a ballot, Mr Hoon said: "I think it's probably over. I accept that we made that opportunity and we don't appear to have succeeded... We set it out and it's really for them [Labour MPs] to decide." | On the campaign for a ballot, Mr Hoon said: "I think it's probably over. I accept that we made that opportunity and we don't appear to have succeeded... We set it out and it's really for them [Labour MPs] to decide." |
| Some MPs described the letter as "cowardly" and "unconstitutional" under Labour's leadership selection rules. | Some MPs described the letter as "cowardly" and "unconstitutional" under Labour's leadership selection rules. |
| 'Core vote' | |
| Mr Hoon said: "I'm not quite sure why this matter is such a dramatic issue... If they think he [Mr Brown] has this support, what are they afraid of?" | Mr Hoon said: "I'm not quite sure why this matter is such a dramatic issue... If they think he [Mr Brown] has this support, what are they afraid of?" |
| Some cabinet members were accused of responding too slowly following the letter being sent out and issuing only lukewarm expressions of support for the prime minister in the immediate aftermath. | Some cabinet members were accused of responding too slowly following the letter being sent out and issuing only lukewarm expressions of support for the prime minister in the immediate aftermath. |
| Speaking after the cabinet meeting, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson dismissed reports that ministers had tried to persuade Mr Brown to change his style and election strategy. | |
| I have never heard any of my colleagues, and certainly not the prime minister, ever suggest that the Labour Party can or should win on the basis simply of those who are supporting us now Lord Mandelson | |
| He told the BBC: "I don't think so. I don't think that the discussions that have taken place have quite followed those lines." | |
| Asked if Mr Brown had been told not to pursue a "core vote strategy", Lord Mandelson said: "I have never heard any of my colleagues, and certainly not the prime minister, ever suggest that the Labour Party can or should win on the basis simply of those who are supporting us now. | |
| "We have got to win back people to our side. We have to share our vision, our proposals for the future. We have to set out what we want to do for the country, not just this year or next but over the next 10 years. | |
| "That's what we are working on all the time." | |
| He added: "The idea that the prime minister thinks you can just turn on some policies for this group or those policies for another - that's not how government works. It's not how policies develop, and it's certainly not how elections are won, as we will show you when the time comes." | |
| Mr Hoon said he still planned to stand as a candidate at the next election, while Ms Hewitt is standing down. | Mr Hoon said he still planned to stand as a candidate at the next election, while Ms Hewitt is standing down. |
| Meanwhile, a ComRes poll for BBC Two's Daily Politics suggests that 60% of people believe Labour is the most divided party, compared with 17% for the Conservatives and 10% for the Lib Dems. | |
| In the same survey, 50% of people agreed Labour would have greater appeal with voters if Mr Brown stood aside to allow someone else to lead the party into the next election, while 42% disagreed. | |
| But 69% said that, if he were to resign, there were no obvious more popular candidates within the party. | |
| ComRes spoke to 1,003 voters on 6 and 7 January. |