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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Minister to quit before election | Minister to quit before election |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Trade Minister Lord Jones will quit his job before the next election because he does not intend to campaign for Labour. | Trade Minister Lord Jones will quit his job before the next election because he does not intend to campaign for Labour. |
| The ex-CBI chief, who is not a Labour member, was one of the "government of all the talents" appointed by Gordon Brown after becoming prime minister. | The ex-CBI chief, who is not a Labour member, was one of the "government of all the talents" appointed by Gordon Brown after becoming prime minister. |
| Treasury Minister Angela Eagle told the BBC: "He's not in the Labour Party...he doesn't want to be around the government during a general election." | Treasury Minister Angela Eagle told the BBC: "He's not in the Labour Party...he doesn't want to be around the government during a general election." |
| The Conservatives say it shows the peer has "no confidence" in Gordon Brown. | The Conservatives say it shows the peer has "no confidence" in Gordon Brown. |
| According to The Times, Lord (Digby) Jones told a private meeting with businessmen and lobbyists in January that he wanted to stand down in order to avoid questions on whether he supported the prime minister. | According to The Times, Lord (Digby) Jones told a private meeting with businessmen and lobbyists in January that he wanted to stand down in order to avoid questions on whether he supported the prime minister. |
| No surprise? | No surprise? |
| The report comes as Mr Brown meets leading City figures to discuss the global credit crunch crisis, and critics speculate over the state of his leadership. | The report comes as Mr Brown meets leading City figures to discuss the global credit crunch crisis, and critics speculate over the state of his leadership. |
| It is no secret that he does not wish to pursue a political career in the longer term and he has always said that he will continue his ministerial role for a finite period UK Trade and Investment | It is no secret that he does not wish to pursue a political career in the longer term and he has always said that he will continue his ministerial role for a finite period UK Trade and Investment |
| A spokeswoman for UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) said Lord Jones' intentions should not come as a surprise. | A spokeswoman for UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) said Lord Jones' intentions should not come as a surprise. |
| "It is no secret that he does not wish to pursue a political career in the longer term and he has always said that he will continue his ministerial role for a finite period," she said. | "It is no secret that he does not wish to pursue a political career in the longer term and he has always said that he will continue his ministerial role for a finite period," she said. |
| "With a successful 30-year business career behind him and the benefit of a single focus on trade and investment, he will continue to use his ministerial position to deliver more intensive support for UK business internationally and bang the drum for brand Britain around the world." | "With a successful 30-year business career behind him and the benefit of a single focus on trade and investment, he will continue to use his ministerial position to deliver more intensive support for UK business internationally and bang the drum for brand Britain around the world." |
| If Digby Jones does not want to campaign for Gordon Brown at the next election, I suspect he is at the head of a long queue Alan DuncanShadow business secretary | If Digby Jones does not want to campaign for Gordon Brown at the next election, I suspect he is at the head of a long queue Alan DuncanShadow business secretary |
| Ms Eagle told BBC2's Newsnight: "He is an unusual man. He is not in the Labour Party. I think that he is saying that as a non-affiliated party person, he doesn't want to be around the government during a general election. | Ms Eagle told BBC2's Newsnight: "He is an unusual man. He is not in the Labour Party. I think that he is saying that as a non-affiliated party person, he doesn't want to be around the government during a general election. |
| "That could be two years away. I suggest we talk about the economy and stop worrying about this tittle-tattle around the edge." | "That could be two years away. I suggest we talk about the economy and stop worrying about this tittle-tattle around the edge." |
| But Conservative leader David Cameron said Mr Brown's "government of all the talents" policy "hasn't really worked out when you've got your own trade minister saying... he's going to pack up and leave the government because he can't campaign for you". | |
| "I think Digby Jones is a very effective trade minister - I'm glad he's there because we need someone flying the flag for British business," he said. | |
| "But I don't think it says much for the government when he's not prepared to speak up for them." | |
| Controversy | Controversy |
| Shadow business and enterprise secretary Alan Duncan added: "It's unprecedented for a minister to say that they have no confidence in their own prime minister. | |
| "If Digby Jones does not want to campaign for Gordon Brown at the next election, I suspect he is at the head of a long queue." | |
| Lord Jones was one of several appointments Mr Brown made from outside the political arena. | Lord Jones was one of several appointments Mr Brown made from outside the political arena. |
| But his so-called "government of all the talents" has caused some controversy. | But his so-called "government of all the talents" has caused some controversy. |
| Despite being a minister, Lord Jones refused to take the Labour whip in the House of Lords and caused embarrassment when he expressed concerns about Chancellor Alistair Darling's plans to reform capital gains tax and tax wealthy "non-domiciled" foreigners living in Britain. | Despite being a minister, Lord Jones refused to take the Labour whip in the House of Lords and caused embarrassment when he expressed concerns about Chancellor Alistair Darling's plans to reform capital gains tax and tax wealthy "non-domiciled" foreigners living in Britain. |
| Security minister Admiral Lord West had to withdraw comments that appeared to conflict with the government view of whether the police need to hold terrorist suspects for more than 28 days. | Security minister Admiral Lord West had to withdraw comments that appeared to conflict with the government view of whether the police need to hold terrorist suspects for more than 28 days. |
| And development minister Lord Malloch-Brown got into trouble when he revealed that British officials had been in contract with Hamas. | And development minister Lord Malloch-Brown got into trouble when he revealed that British officials had been in contract with Hamas. |