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Brown 'won't face serious fight' Brown 'won't face serious fight'
(about 4 hours later)
It appears unlikely that Gordon Brown will face a major contest for the Labour leadership when Tony Blair steps down, Tessa Jowell is to say.It appears unlikely that Gordon Brown will face a major contest for the Labour leadership when Tony Blair steps down, Tessa Jowell is to say.
He will take over without a challenge from a senior minister, the culture secretary will predict in a speech.He will take over without a challenge from a senior minister, the culture secretary will predict in a speech.
Home secretary John Reid said on Sunday Labour would not be fractured after Mr Blair goes - remarks that commentators are saying indicate he will not stand.Home secretary John Reid said on Sunday Labour would not be fractured after Mr Blair goes - remarks that commentators are saying indicate he will not stand.
Any contest is likely to be between Mr Brown and one of two left-wing MPs.Any contest is likely to be between Mr Brown and one of two left-wing MPs.
When asked about the leadership contest on Sunday, Mr Reid said there would be unity in the Labour Party, up to and beyond this week's local elections.When asked about the leadership contest on Sunday, Mr Reid said there would be unity in the Labour Party, up to and beyond this week's local elections.
While not completely ruling out a leadership bid, Mr Reid said the Labour Party would not be "fractured" once the prime minister resigned and there would be "a coming together of the Labour leadership".While not completely ruling out a leadership bid, Mr Reid said the Labour Party would not be "fractured" once the prime minister resigned and there would be "a coming together of the Labour leadership".
'Tribalism''Tribalism'
He told BBC One's Sunday AM programme: "The election that matters to me is the election which places before the British people the choice between Conservatives and Labour."He told BBC One's Sunday AM programme: "The election that matters to me is the election which places before the British people the choice between Conservatives and Labour."
Ms Jowell will echo those comments in a speech in London on Monday, saying it is time to bring an end to tribalism within New Labour, with no more so-called Blairites and Brownites.Ms Jowell will echo those comments in a speech in London on Monday, saying it is time to bring an end to tribalism within New Labour, with no more so-called Blairites and Brownites.
BBC political correspondent Carole Walker correspondent said if there is a challenge from a left-wing candidate, Tony Blair would "almost certainly" come out in support of Gordon Brown once he has stood down as prime minister. If there is only a challenge from a left-wing candidate, Tony Blair is expected to come out in support of Gordon Brown once the contest to replace him gets under way.
Last week Labour MPs Michael Meacher and John McDonnell - who had been planning separate leadership challenges - announced they were uniting in their bid to target Mr Brown.Last week Labour MPs Michael Meacher and John McDonnell - who had been planning separate leadership challenges - announced they were uniting in their bid to target Mr Brown.
They agreed one of them would withdraw, depending on the level of backing they had when Mr Blair steps down.They agreed one of them would withdraw, depending on the level of backing they had when Mr Blair steps down.