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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Coup bid was 'silliness' says PM | Coup bid was 'silliness' says PM |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | But only a handful of backbench MPs publicly supported the move and throughout the day cabinet ministers spoke against it. |
| 'Sorry it happened' | 'Sorry it happened' |
| In the newspaper interview, Mr Brown says he had "got on with the job" since he heard about the ballot plot. | 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. | "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." | "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." | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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' | '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. | 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. |
| Peter Watt has denounced the prime minister | 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 said 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. |
| 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". |