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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Brown should quit, says Labour MP | Brown should quit, says Labour MP |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Labour MP Gordon Prentice has urged Gordon Brown to resign, arguing the government has "gone a bit rusty". | Labour MP Gordon Prentice has urged Gordon Brown to resign, arguing the government has "gone a bit rusty". |
| He said the prime minister lacked the skill "to persuade and enthuse" and should go in Labour's "best interests". | He said the prime minister lacked the skill "to persuade and enthuse" and should go in Labour's "best interests". |
| But the PM was backed by a number of ministers as debate over his position continued in the wake of the party's Glasgow East by-election defeat. | But the PM was backed by a number of ministers as debate over his position continued in the wake of the party's Glasgow East by-election defeat. |
| And Parliamentary Labour Party chairman Tony Lloyd said Mr Prentice did not reflect the views of most Labour MPs. | And Parliamentary Labour Party chairman Tony Lloyd said Mr Prentice did not reflect the views of most Labour MPs. |
| Mr Lloyd told the BBC the "widespread view" among Labour MPs was not that Mr Brown should go - but that there was a need for a "sharper focus" and for Mr Brown "to get across what he's all about". | Mr Lloyd told the BBC the "widespread view" among Labour MPs was not that Mr Brown should go - but that there was a need for a "sharper focus" and for Mr Brown "to get across what he's all about". |
| 'Message lost' | 'Message lost' |
| Labour saw its 13,507 majority in Glasgow East overturned by the Scottish National Party in last Thursday's by-election. | Labour saw its 13,507 majority in Glasgow East overturned by the Scottish National Party in last Thursday's by-election. |
| That result followed the recent loss of the Crewe and Nantwich seat, poor local elections and continuing low opinion poll showings. | That result followed the recent loss of the Crewe and Nantwich seat, poor local elections and continuing low opinion poll showings. |
| There have been reports of unhappiness with Mr Brown, although so far only Mr Prentice and one other Labour MP, Graham Stringer, have spoken publicly of the need for a change of leader. | There have been reports of unhappiness with Mr Brown, although so far only Mr Prentice and one other Labour MP, Graham Stringer, have spoken publicly of the need for a change of leader. |
| Mr Prentice, MP for Pendle, who was one of the few Labour MPs not to back Mr Brown to replace Tony Blair last year, said: "A prime minister needs a different set of skills from a chancellor of the exchequer. | Mr Prentice, MP for Pendle, who was one of the few Labour MPs not to back Mr Brown to replace Tony Blair last year, 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." | "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." | 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." |
| Mr Prentice told the BBC he wanted to see a leadership election: "For over a decade we have had no elections. It is no wonder we are a bit rusty." | Mr Prentice told the BBC he wanted to see a leadership election: "For over a decade we have had no elections. It is no wonder we are a bit rusty." |
| 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 Harman Analysis: Brown under threat | 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 Harman Analysis: Brown under threat |
| But Mr Brown, who has just begun his first proper holiday since becoming PM a year ago, continued to get public backing from cabinet ministers. | But Mr Brown, who has just begun his first proper holiday since becoming PM a year ago, continued to get public backing from cabinet ministers. |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "He's proved himself to be a strong prime minister and quite rightly, as he said over the weekend, he's getting on with the job. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "He's proved himself to be a strong prime minister and quite rightly, as he said over the weekend, he's getting on with the job. |
| "He should have the support of all of us in order to that." | "He should have the support of all of us in order to that." |
| And Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman told the BBC that she did not think there would, or should, be a leadership challenge. | |
| She said: "I have got a great deal of confidence in Gordon Brown, having worked with him for 25 years. | She said: "I have got a great deal of confidence in Gordon Brown, having worked with him for 25 years. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYBrown is not the right man to lead the country, but they have no other candidateFiona, LondonSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYBrown is not the right man to lead the country, but they have no other candidateFiona, LondonSend us your comments |
| She said people had not yet seen "the best of" of Mr Brown 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, and said he was the "solution" rather than the "problem". | |
| 'Pointless' | 'Pointless' |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |