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Clarke reignites leadership row Clarke reignites leadership row
(about 1 hour later)
Former Home Secretary Charles Clarke has accused Chancellor Gordon Brown of "absolutely stupid" behaviour during the Blair leadership furore.Former Home Secretary Charles Clarke has accused Chancellor Gordon Brown of "absolutely stupid" behaviour during the Blair leadership furore.
Mr Clarke told London's Evening Standard newspaper people were angry at pictures of Mr Brown smiling broadly as he left Downing Street on Wednesday.Mr Clarke told London's Evening Standard newspaper people were angry at pictures of Mr Brown smiling broadly as he left Downing Street on Wednesday.
He said Mr Brown could easily have stopped plotting against Mr Blair and questioned his fitness to lead Labour. He said Mr Brown could easily have stopped plotting against Tony Blair and questioned his fitness to lead Labour.
Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said Mr Clarke was "just wrong". But Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said Mr Clarke was "just wrong".
"People are entitled to their views but I don't think Charles' views represent the vast majority of my colleagues," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme."People are entitled to their views but I don't think Charles' views represent the vast majority of my colleagues," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Ms Kelly appealed for "a period calm and reflection" following several days of open warfare among Labour MPs over when Tony Blair will step down. Ms Kelly appealed for "a period of calm and reflection" following several days of open warfare among Labour MPs over when Tony Blair will step down.
When I met the prime minister yesterday, I said to him - as I've said on many occasions and I repeat today - it is for him to make the decision Gordon Brown href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5323592.stm" class="">Analysis: Blair's final gamble href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5324480.stm" class="">In full: Blair statement href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5324358.stm" class="">In full: Brown statement But any hopes Mr Blair's announcement on Thursday that he would quit within a year would end hostilities appear to have been shattered by Mr Clarke's intervention.
Mr Brown met Tony Blair on Wednesday, prompting speculation about a deal over his exit from Number 10. Part of the problem is that he lacks confidence Charles Clarke on Gordon Brown href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5324480.stm" class="">In full: Blair statement href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5324358.stm" class="">In full: Brown statement href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2006/blair_succession/default.stm" class="">Special report: Blair succession
After the meeting, Mr Brown was photographed smiling as he drove away from Downing Street after a day of open Labour warfare which saw a string of government resignations. The former home secretary accused Mr Brown of supporting a plot to force Mr Blair out of office.
But in a stinging attack on his former Cabinet colleague, Mr Clarke told the Evening Standard: "A lot of people are very upset and cross about that. He said the chancellor should have reined in the backbench rebels who sparked the leadership crisis by calling for the prime minister to quit immediately.
"It was absolutely stupid: a stupid, stupid thing to do." "What he should have done was come out strongly and distance himself from them. He could have done that with a click of his fingers. This has been complete madness," Mr Clarke told the Evening Standard.
Mr Brown met Tony Blair on Wednesday after a day of open warfare - and a string of resignations - over Mr Blair's refusal to name a departure date or stand aside.
The meeting prompted speculation about a deal between Mr Blair and Mr Brown over Mr Blair's exit from Number 10 - an impression reinforced, says Mr Clarke, by a picture of Mr Brown grinning as he drove away from Downing Street.
Mr Clarke told the Evening Standard: "A lot of people are very upset and cross about that. It was absolutely stupid, a stupid, stupid thing to do."
Mr Clarke said Mr Brown must "prove his fitness" to be prime minister.Mr Clarke said Mr Brown must "prove his fitness" to be prime minister.
"Part of the problem is that he lacks confidence. He is nervous. That could all change when the burden of waiting for the job is lifted form his shoulders and I think it probably will. But the problem is, nobody really knows."Part of the problem is that he lacks confidence. He is nervous. That could all change when the burden of waiting for the job is lifted form his shoulders and I think it probably will. But the problem is, nobody really knows.
"He is not where he should be at the moment. He is talented and brilliant but there are these little incidences like the grin in the car that build up a terrible picture.""He is not where he should be at the moment. He is talented and brilliant but there are these little incidences like the grin in the car that build up a terrible picture."
KEY LABOUR DATES 25-26 Sept: Mr Blair and Mr Brown make speeches at the Labour Party conference in Manchester15 Nov: State opening of Parliament including the Queen's speech outlining the government's agenda2 May 2007: Tenth anniversary of Mr Blair's election as prime minister3 May 2007: Elections for Scottish and Welsh assemblies, and most local authorities in England 'Private arrangements'
He said many in the Labour Party had concerns about a Brown premiership and needed to be reassured. Ex-health secretary Alan Milburn was "leadership material", he added. He said many in the Labour Party had concerns about a Brown premiership and needed to be reassured. Ex-Health Secretary Alan Milburn was "leadership material", he added.
Earlier, key Blair ally and architect of New Labour, Peter Mandelson, said the party had had "its moment of madness" and now must move on. Mr Brown is thought to have put pressure on Mr Blair to quit earlier than he wanted to when they met on Wednesday.
Mr Brown used an article in the Sun newspaper to praise Mr Blair's "courageous" leadership. But the chancellor insisted there were no "private arrangements" between himself and Mr Blair over a departure date, telling reporters on Thursday it was for Mr Blair to decide when he goes.
The prime minister said the Labour conference in two weeks' time would be his last as Labour leader and apologised for Labour's conduct in recent days, admitting it "has not been our finest hour, to be frank". Mr Brown, who is making a speech on Britishness in Edinburgh later, used an article in the Sun newspaper to praise Mr Blair's "courageous" leadership.
I think that Labour has had its moment of madness this week and I hope it will now move on Peter Mandelson Political reaction Special report: Blair succession
Mr Blair's allies have suggested he will announce a timetable early in the New Year and hand over power in May.
But Manchester Blackley MP Graham Stringer said he did not think Mr Blair's statement "took us any further forward".
Mr Blair warned: "It's the public that comes first and it's the country that matters, and we can't treat the public as irrelevant bystanders in a subject as important as who is their prime minister."
Mr Blair has been under pressure to quit earlier than May in order to get a new leader in place before the elections in England, Scotland and Wales - which are expected to be disastrous for Labour.