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Brown will not quit, says Harman Brown should quit, says Labour MP
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown will not resign despite speculation that some MPs are plotting to oust him, Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman has insisted. Labour MP Gordon Prentice has urged Gordon Brown to resign, arguing the government has "gone a bit rusty".
Ms Harman said people had not yet "seen the best" of the prime minister. He added that the prime minister lacked the skills needed "to communicate, persuade and enthuse".
Speaking after Labour's defeat in last week's Glasgow East by-election, she said Mr Brown was the "solution" to the UK's woes, not the "problem". Mr Brown - under fire over Labour's by-election defeat in Glasgow East - should quit in the party's "best interests", Mr Prentice said.
On Sunday former deputy prime minister John Prescott warned any leadership challenge would be "pointless". But Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said Mr Brown would stay and said he was the "solution" not the "problem".
Several other leading government figures, including Justice Secretary Jack Straw, Schools Secretary Ed Balls and Cabinet Office Minister Ed Miliband, have publicly defended Mr Brown. 'Message lost'
'Confidence'
Labour saw its 13,507 majority in Glasgow East overturned by the Scottish National Party in last Thursday's by-election, following the recent loss of the Crewe and Nantwich seat and the London mayoralty.Labour saw its 13,507 majority in Glasgow East overturned by the Scottish National Party in last Thursday's by-election, following the recent loss of the Crewe and Nantwich seat and the London mayoralty.
The Daily Telegraph reports that some MPs are preparing a letter to hand to the cabinet calling for a change of leader.The Daily Telegraph reports that some MPs are preparing a letter to hand to the cabinet calling for a change of leader.
Mr Prentice, MP for Pendle, said: "A prime minister needs a different set of skills from a chancellor of the exchequer.
"A prime minister must be able to communicate, persuade and enthuse. If not, the message is lost."
He added: "I hope Gordon reflects on things during August and accept that it is in the party's best interests, and perhaps his own, for him to stand down.
The reason I so strongly support him is because the big problems people are facing in this country at this moment are the economy, the cost of fuel and food prices Harriet HarmanThe reason I so strongly support him is because the big problems people are facing in this country at this moment are the economy, the cost of fuel and food prices Harriet Harman
When asked whether she thought Mr Brown would have to resign, Ms Harman told GMTV: "No I don't. I have got a great deal of confidence in Gordon Brown, having worked with him for 25 years. "It was an absolute tragedy there was no leadership election when Tony Blair resigned. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats managed to have elections for their leaders and the sky didn't fall in."
Mr Prentice said: "I want to see an open leadership election where the bar in terms of nominations is not set so high so as to exclude credible candidates...
"In government, the prime minister appoints MPs to his Cabinet and to the government as a whole. In opposition, the Parliamentary Labour Party elects the shadow cabinet.
"For over a decade we have had no elections. It is no wonder we are a bit rusty."
'Better off'
But when asked earlier whether she thought Mr Brown would have to resign, Ms Harman told GMTV: "No I don't. I have got a great deal of confidence in Gordon Brown, having worked with him for 25 years.
"I can recognise that I don't think the British people have seen the best of him yet as prime minister."I can recognise that I don't think the British people have seen the best of him yet as prime minister.
"But the reason I so strongly support him is because the big problems people are facing in this country at this moment are the economy, the cost of fuel and food prices."But the reason I so strongly support him is because the big problems people are facing in this country at this moment are the economy, the cost of fuel and food prices.
"And I think Gordon Brown, more than anybody, has done more over the last 10 years to make people better off.""And I think Gordon Brown, more than anybody, has done more over the last 10 years to make people better off."
Ms Harman added that many of the problems had arisen from the international economic downturn, insisting: "He is the solution, not the problem."Ms Harman added that many of the problems had arisen from the international economic downturn, insisting: "He is the solution, not the problem."
'Big mistake' 'Pointless'
On Sunday, Mr Prescott demanded an end to "pointless" manoeuvring against Mr Brown - and insisted no other minister was "anywhere near" capable of taking over at Number 10. Several other leading government figures, including Justice Secretary Jack Straw, Schools Secretary Ed Balls and Cabinet Office Minister Ed Miliband, have publicly defended Mr Brown.
Mr Straw, whose allies were among those said to be canvassing dissenters, backed the prime minister and said any challenge would be a "big mistake". On Sunday, former deputy prime minister John Prescott demanded an end to "pointless" manoeuvring against Mr Brown - and insisted no other minister was "anywhere near" capable of taking over at Number 10.
But Paul Kenny, leader of the GMB union, urged Labour MPs to trigger a ballot ahead of the party's annual conference in September.But Paul Kenny, leader of the GMB union, urged Labour MPs to trigger a ballot ahead of the party's annual conference in September.
Following the by-election result, he said it was "better to have the ballot" and "see where we go".Following the by-election result, he said it was "better to have the ballot" and "see where we go".
"The MPs have got to make a strong decision as to whether they want to go into an election with Gordon Brown or have a [leadership] contest," he added."The MPs have got to make a strong decision as to whether they want to go into an election with Gordon Brown or have a [leadership] contest," he added.