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Ex-Labour official denounces PM Coup bid was 'silliness' says PM
(about 5 hours later)
Former Labour Party general secretary Peter Watt has said it will be difficult for the party to win the next election under Gordon Brown. Gordon Brown has described last week's call by two former cabinet colleagues for him to face a secret leadership ballot as a "form of silliness".
In an interview with The News Of The World, he also says he will serve a full term if Labour is re-elected.
After details of the challenge emerged, the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, was alleged in some quarters to have shown only lukewarm support.
But he has said he is backing Mr Brown to lead Labour into the election.
On Wednesday, former defence secretary Geoff Hoon and ex-health secretary Patricia Hewitt urged a secret ballot of Labour MPs on the Labour leadership, saying the party was "deeply divided" on the issue.
But only a handful of backbench MPs publicly supported the move and throughout the day cabinet ministers spoke against it.
'Sorry it happened'
In the newspaper interview, Mr Brown says he had "got on with the job" since he heard about the ballot plot.
"I can't answer for the feelings of one or two people. But politics is full of... you know, large numbers of people are involved and they make their own decisions," he said.
"They have got to be free to make the choices they want. I'm sorry it happened. I think it was a form of silliness."
He added: "I am the prime minister and am determined to remain so. I am determined, I am resolute."
Following the move, there was continued speculation about his level of support among cabinet colleagues.
But in an interview with the BBC, Mr Miliband said: "I am absolutely committed to ensure we get the strongest possible Labour vote at the next General Election under Gordon's leadership.
"My job is to be a really good foreign secretary in a really good Labour government and it's also to be part of a collective team that delivers the sort of positive political offer that can take Britain forward and that's what I'm determined to do."
'Shambles'
Meanwhile, former Labour Party general secretary Peter Watt has said it would be difficult for the party to win the next election under Gordon Brown.
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, he said Downing Street was a "shambles" after Mr Brown took over.Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, he said Downing Street was a "shambles" after Mr Brown took over.
He also said that the prime minister had spent £1.2m on the "election that never was" in 2007.He also said that the prime minister had spent £1.2m on the "election that never was" in 2007.
Downing Street has dismissed the comments, but would not give an official response.Downing Street has dismissed the comments, but would not give an official response.
'Shambles' Peter Watt has denounced the prime minister
Mr Watt was general secretary of the party between 2005 and 2007 during the period when the former prime minister Tony Blair handed over the reins of power to Mr Brown.Mr Watt was general secretary of the party between 2005 and 2007 during the period when the former prime minister Tony Blair handed over the reins of power to Mr Brown.
He was forced to resign as the party's administrative chief in 2007 after admitting he knew businessman David Abrahams had been donating cash to Labour through third parties.He was forced to resign as the party's administrative chief in 2007 after admitting he knew businessman David Abrahams had been donating cash to Labour through third parties.
The newspaper is serialising his memoirs - Inside Out: My Story of Betrayal and Cowardice At The Heart of New Labour, in which he says that Mr Brown had no vision or strategy when he came to power. The newspaper is serialising his memoirs - Inside Out: My Story of Betrayal and Cowardice At The Heart of New Labour, in which he said Mr Brown had no vision or strategy when he came to power.
Gordon Brown says he is getting on with the business of government BBC Political correspondent Carole Walker said it was important to remember Mr Watt was forced to resign as general secretary and was "clearly very angry".
He also says Mr Brown intended to hold an election shortly after taking office in 2007 and spent £1.2m on preparing for this, but pulled out at the last minute.
In May 2009, Mr Watts said he had been "abandoned by the political leadership of the Labour Party" when the scandal over the funding by Mr Abrahams came out. He did not face charges over it.
BBC Political correspondent Carole Walker says it is important to remember that Mr Watt was forced to resign as general secretary and that he was "clearly very angry".
She says Mr Watt feels badly let down by Mr Brown.
However, she says that in the context of last week's failed attempt by two former ministers to spark a ballot on Mr Brown's leadership, this does not help the prime minister's efforts to re-establish his authority.