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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Leadership plot over, admits Hoon | Leadership plot over, admits Hoon |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Former cabinet minister Geoff Hoon has admitted his push for a secret ballot on Gordon Brown's leadership "is over". | Former cabinet 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. |
| Meanwhile in the first cabinet since the failed bid, Mr Brown has told ministers they must have a "laser focus on the key issues of the country". | Meanwhile in the first cabinet since the failed bid, Mr Brown has told ministers they must have a "laser focus on the key issues of the country". |
| And Lord Mandelson dismissed reports ministers had extracted concessions from the PM to secure his leadership. | And Lord Mandelson dismissed reports ministers had extracted concessions from the PM to secure his leadership. |
| On Wednesday former defence secretary Mr Hoon and former health secretary Patricia Hewitt urged a secret ballot of Labour MPs on the Labour leadership, saying the party was "deeply divided" on the issue and it had to be sorted out "once and for all". | |
| But only a handful of backbench MPs publicly supported the move and throughout the day cabinet ministers spoke against it. | But only a handful of backbench MPs publicly supported the move and throughout the day cabinet ministers spoke against it. |
| Hoon meeting | Hoon meeting |
| Mr Brown has called it a "storm in a teacup" but there has been continued speculation about his level of support among cabinet colleagues, with several newspapers suggesting that some of his colleagues extracted concessions from him in return for supporting his leadership. | Mr Brown has called it a "storm in a teacup" but there has been continued speculation about his level of support among cabinet colleagues, with several newspapers suggesting that some of his colleagues extracted concessions from him in return for supporting his leadership. |
| Mr Brown's spokesman said he had made no reference to the failed ballot on Friday morning at the cabinet meeting, the first since the news broke, instead telling ministers of the "importance of a laser focus on the key issues of the country" - such as the economy and severe weather. | Mr Brown's spokesman said he had made no reference to the failed ballot on Friday morning at the cabinet meeting, the first since the news broke, instead telling ministers of the "importance of a laser focus on the key issues of the country" - such as the economy and severe weather. |
| 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 |
| Meanwhile, on the campaign for a ballot, Mr Hoon told the BBC: "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." | Meanwhile, on the campaign for a ballot, Mr Hoon told the BBC: "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." |
| He faces a meeting of Labour members in his constituency of Ashford, Nottinghamshire, later. | He 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". |
| Mr Hoon said that Labour "thrives on political debate" adding: "He's entitled to his view and I'm entitled to mine." | Mr Hoon said that Labour "thrives on political debate" adding: "He's entitled to his view and I'm entitled to mine." |
| Core vote | Core vote |
| 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. |
| Newspaper reports on Friday suggested that some cabinet ministers had held meetings with Mr Brown on Wednesday in which they persuaded him to change his style and emphasis. | Newspaper reports on Friday suggested that some cabinet ministers had held meetings with Mr Brown on Wednesday in which they persuaded him to change his style and emphasis. |
| Peter Mandelson: "We have to win back people to our side" | Peter Mandelson: "We have to win back people to our side" |
| But Business Secretary Lord Mandelson told the BBC: "I don't think so. I don't think that the discussions that have taken place have quite followed those lines." | But Business Secretary Lord Mandelson 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." | 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." |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | ComRes spoke to 1,003 voters on 6 and 7 January. |