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Miliband dismisses MP criticism claims as 'nonsense' | Miliband dismisses MP criticism claims as 'nonsense' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Ed Miliband has dismissed reports of unrest among Labour MPs over his leadership of the party as "nonsense". | Ed Miliband has dismissed reports of unrest among Labour MPs over his leadership of the party as "nonsense". |
Some backbenchers have told the chairman of the parliamentary party that he should stand down, sources say. | Some backbenchers have told the chairman of the parliamentary party that he should stand down, sources say. |
It is understood his leadership was questioned at a meeting of Labour MPs from north-west England this week. | It is understood his leadership was questioned at a meeting of Labour MPs from north-west England this week. |
But, speaking on a visit to Northamptonshire, Mr Miliband said: "We remain focused on this country and how we can make this country work again." | But, speaking on a visit to Northamptonshire, Mr Miliband said: "We remain focused on this country and how we can make this country work again." |
He told the BBC: "I don't accept that this matter (concern over his leadership) arises." | He told the BBC: "I don't accept that this matter (concern over his leadership) arises." |
Mr Miliband added: "Honestly, this is nonsense." | Mr Miliband added: "Honestly, this is nonsense." |
'Downturn in mood' | 'Downturn in mood' |
Sources say MPs from north-west England discussed moving to a defensive strategy in a bid to hold on to their seats, rather than an offensive one aimed at winning the election. | Sources say MPs from north-west England discussed moving to a defensive strategy in a bid to hold on to their seats, rather than an offensive one aimed at winning the election. |
Meanwhile, two polls have suggested Scottish Labour is on course to lose most of its Westminster seats to the SNP. | Meanwhile, two polls have suggested Scottish Labour is on course to lose most of its Westminster seats to the SNP. |
Another, by YouGov for the Sunday Times, suggested Mr Miliband was less popular than his Liberal Democrat counterpart Nick Clegg. | Another, by YouGov for the Sunday Times, suggested Mr Miliband was less popular than his Liberal Democrat counterpart Nick Clegg. |
One normally loyal backbencher told the BBC's Ross Hawkins: "I think there's been a sharp downturn in mood over the last few days." | One normally loyal backbencher told the BBC's Ross Hawkins: "I think there's been a sharp downturn in mood over the last few days." |
Analysis - BBC political correspondent Carole Walker | Analysis - BBC political correspondent Carole Walker |
The mood among Labour MPs is grim indeed. "We can't just carry on like this", one former minister told me, though others believe it is unlikely there will be a serious attempt to unseat Ed Miliband before the election. | The mood among Labour MPs is grim indeed. "We can't just carry on like this", one former minister told me, though others believe it is unlikely there will be a serious attempt to unseat Ed Miliband before the election. |
"There's no-one to ride to the rescue," another said, pointing out that former Home Secretary Alan Johnson was not willing to stand. Another said: "No-one would be stupid enough to move now." | "There's no-one to ride to the rescue," another said, pointing out that former Home Secretary Alan Johnson was not willing to stand. Another said: "No-one would be stupid enough to move now." |
But there is no disguising the scale of the concerns. | But there is no disguising the scale of the concerns. |
The complaints are many and varied. Some on the right of the party say their leader has no hope of appealing to Middle England; others on the left say he should abandon austerity and reverse coalition cuts. | The complaints are many and varied. Some on the right of the party say their leader has no hope of appealing to Middle England; others on the left say he should abandon austerity and reverse coalition cuts. |
There are complaints about Mr Miliband's office, described as "dysfunctional" and "remote from the real world". Some are concerned the party lacks pithy policies to sell on the doorstep. | There are complaints about Mr Miliband's office, described as "dysfunctional" and "remote from the real world". Some are concerned the party lacks pithy policies to sell on the doorstep. |
For all the talk of possible leadership challenges, most are focusing their energies on the battle to hold on to their own seats. | For all the talk of possible leadership challenges, most are focusing their energies on the battle to hold on to their own seats. |
New Statesman magazine, which backed Mr Miliband's leadership campaign in 2010, published a critical article suggesting he "doesn't really understand the lower-middle class or material aspiration". | New Statesman magazine, which backed Mr Miliband's leadership campaign in 2010, published a critical article suggesting he "doesn't really understand the lower-middle class or material aspiration". |
And Labour peer Lord Soley has written an article urging the party not to wait "for the Tories to lose" next year's general election. | And Labour peer Lord Soley has written an article urging the party not to wait "for the Tories to lose" next year's general election. |
He added: "The problem is not so much individual policies as the lack of a vision and a sense of direction for the country combined with lack of clear leadership responsibility in the leader's office." | He added: "The problem is not so much individual policies as the lack of a vision and a sense of direction for the country combined with lack of clear leadership responsibility in the leader's office." |
The BBC has learned the leadership was discussed on Wednesday, at a regular social gathering of Labour MPs from the 2010 intake. | The BBC has learned the leadership was discussed on Wednesday, at a regular social gathering of Labour MPs from the 2010 intake. |
But critics and supporters of Mr Miliband alike said they had no knowledge of a letter being circulated by backbenchers aimed at removing him. | But critics and supporters of Mr Miliband alike said they had no knowledge of a letter being circulated by backbenchers aimed at removing him. |
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls dismissed reports of a plot to oust Mr Miliband, telling the BBC: "I think all this is nonsense, to be honest. I've no idea about any of this." | Shadow chancellor Ed Balls dismissed reports of a plot to oust Mr Miliband, telling the BBC: "I think all this is nonsense, to be honest. I've no idea about any of this." |
Speaking on BBC One's Question Time, shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said there was a "sense of deep political alienation" among voters, adding: "We have to face the reality that divided parties lose elections." | |
Labour Party donor John Mills called for MPs to rally round Mr Miliband and do "everything we can to get a Labour government elected in six months times". | |
He called the briefings against the leader as "unfortunate and unhelpful" and "not representative of the view of Labour Party people over the country". | |
He told BBC News: "Talking of changing leadership so close to the election doesn't make any sense at all and it's not justified anyway." | |
Another supportive shadow minister blamed "serial dissenters" for criticism of the party leader. | Another supportive shadow minister blamed "serial dissenters" for criticism of the party leader. |
Mr Miliband completed a mini-reshuffle of his team on Wednesday, following the resignation of Jim Murphy as shadow international development secretary to run to be Labour's leader in Scotland. | Mr Miliband completed a mini-reshuffle of his team on Wednesday, following the resignation of Jim Murphy as shadow international development secretary to run to be Labour's leader in Scotland. |
He was replaced by transport spokeswoman Mary Creagh, who in turn was succeeded by Michael Dugher, a close ally of Mr Miliband. | He was replaced by transport spokeswoman Mary Creagh, who in turn was succeeded by Michael Dugher, a close ally of Mr Miliband. |
In Parliament, House of Commons Leader William Hague said Mr Miliband had "had a reshuffle in order to forestall a coup" and suggested the party's election guru, David Axelrod, who helped Barack Obama win the US presidency, was "losing patience with them". | In Parliament, House of Commons Leader William Hague said Mr Miliband had "had a reshuffle in order to forestall a coup" and suggested the party's election guru, David Axelrod, who helped Barack Obama win the US presidency, was "losing patience with them". |