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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Labour 'in flux', says Mandelson | Labour 'in flux', says Mandelson |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Peter Mandelson has waded in to speculation over Gordon Brown's future - after David Miliband raised the spectre of a leadership bid. | Peter Mandelson has waded in to speculation over Gordon Brown's future - after David Miliband raised the spectre of a leadership bid. |
| Ex-cabinet minister Mr Mandelson admitted Labour was "in some flux". | Ex-cabinet minister Mr Mandelson admitted Labour was "in some flux". |
| Foreign secretary Mr Miliband used a Guardian article to urge the party to find the confidence to make its case afresh, but did not mention Mr Brown. | Foreign secretary Mr Miliband used a Guardian article to urge the party to find the confidence to make its case afresh, but did not mention Mr Brown. |
| Harriet Harman said again that she was not planning a leadership bid. "When a woman says no, she means no," she said. | Harriet Harman said again that she was not planning a leadership bid. "When a woman says no, she means no," she said. |
| The comments come as Mr Brown faces increasing pressure following Labour's Glasgow East by-election defeat to the SNP. | The comments come as Mr Brown faces increasing pressure following Labour's Glasgow East by-election defeat to the SNP. |
| Making his mark? | Making his mark? |
| In his newspaper piece, Mr Miliband, touted as a potential successor to Mr Brown, says New Labour won three elections by offering real change, and must do so again. | In his newspaper piece, Mr Miliband, touted as a potential successor to Mr Brown, says New Labour won three elections by offering real change, and must do so again. |
| His remarks will be seen by many people as setting out his stall should speculation about a new Labour leader continue over the summer. | His remarks will be seen by many people as setting out his stall should speculation about a new Labour leader continue over the summer. |
| Let's stop feeling sorry for ourselves, enjoy a break and then find the confidence to make our case afresh David MilibandForeign Secretary | Let's stop feeling sorry for ourselves, enjoy a break and then find the confidence to make our case afresh David MilibandForeign Secretary |
| However, Mr Mandelson, now Britain's EU Trade Commissioner, said: "It would be odd if the government didn't have people who were in a position to make their mark, to make their contribution, in the way that David is doing." | However, Mr Mandelson, now Britain's EU Trade Commissioner, said: "It would be odd if the government didn't have people who were in a position to make their mark, to make their contribution, in the way that David is doing." |
| It would be more surprising if "a leading figure in the government, like the foreign secretary, didn't address himself to the challenges the government is facing", he said. | It would be more surprising if "a leading figure in the government, like the foreign secretary, didn't address himself to the challenges the government is facing", he said. |
| "Obviously the Labour Party is in some flux and it would be rather stupid to deny that," he added. | "Obviously the Labour Party is in some flux and it would be rather stupid to deny that," he added. |
| "It is also inevitable, giving the turbulence and uncertainty that we see amongst the British public, the voters, and of course the people will be asking themselves: 'How we can set a new sense of purpose and direction for the government." | "It is also inevitable, giving the turbulence and uncertainty that we see amongst the British public, the voters, and of course the people will be asking themselves: 'How we can set a new sense of purpose and direction for the government." |
| In his article, Mr Miliband warns: "The odds are against us, no question. But I still believe we can win the next election." | In his article, Mr Miliband warns: "The odds are against us, no question. But I still believe we can win the next election." |
| The men in the House of Commons press lobby keep saying 'are you preparing a leadership bid?' and I keep saying, 'no' Harriet HarmanLabour deputy leader | The men in the House of Commons press lobby keep saying 'are you preparing a leadership bid?' and I keep saying, 'no' Harriet HarmanLabour deputy leader |
| But he says: "In the aftermath of Labour's third successive defeat at the 1959 election, a famous pamphlet asked the question: 'Must Labour lose?' | But he says: "In the aftermath of Labour's third successive defeat at the 1959 election, a famous pamphlet asked the question: 'Must Labour lose?' |
| "Today, the temptation is similar fatalism. We must not yield to it. | "Today, the temptation is similar fatalism. We must not yield to it. |
| "We need to remember that there is little real sense among the public - or even among Tory MPs - of what the Conservatives stand for, or what they would do in power." | "We need to remember that there is little real sense among the public - or even among Tory MPs - of what the Conservatives stand for, or what they would do in power." |
| He continues: "I agree with Jack Straw that we don't need a summer of introspection. | He continues: "I agree with Jack Straw that we don't need a summer of introspection. |
| "The starting point is not debating personalities but winning the argument about our record, our vision for the future and how we achieve it." | "The starting point is not debating personalities but winning the argument about our record, our vision for the future and how we achieve it." |
| 'Radical phase' | 'Radical phase' |
| He lists Labour's successes and failures, and dismisses Conservative leader David Cameron's claims of a "broken society". | He lists Labour's successes and failures, and dismisses Conservative leader David Cameron's claims of a "broken society". |
| Mr Miliband notes that crime is down, lone parent employment and school standards are up, and that there are fewer asylum seekers. | Mr Miliband notes that crime is down, lone parent employment and school standards are up, and that there are fewer asylum seekers. |
| However, he says with hindsight the government "should have got on with reforming the NHS sooner", planned for how to win the peace in Iraq and devolved more power away from Whitehall. | However, he says with hindsight the government "should have got on with reforming the NHS sooner", planned for how to win the peace in Iraq and devolved more power away from Whitehall. |
| He says Mr Cameron is a "likeable" but "empty" politician of the status quo. | He says Mr Cameron is a "likeable" but "empty" politician of the status quo. |
| Setting out his vision for the future, Mr Miliband says "times demand a radical new phase". | Setting out his vision for the future, Mr Miliband says "times demand a radical new phase". |
| Saying 'no' | Saying 'no' |
| He ends: "New Labour won three elections by offering real change, not just in policy but in the way we do politics. We must do so again. | He ends: "New Labour won three elections by offering real change, not just in policy but in the way we do politics. We must do so again. |
| "So let's stop feeling sorry for ourselves, enjoy a break and then find the confidence to make our case afresh." | "So let's stop feeling sorry for ourselves, enjoy a break and then find the confidence to make our case afresh." |
| Meanwhile, Ms Harman, Labour's deputy leader, reiterated she was "not planning a leadership bid". | |
| "The men in the House of Commons press lobby keep saying 'are you preparing a leadership bid?' and I keep saying, 'no'," she told BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour. | |
| "But I think it's one of those occasions whey they won't take no for an answer and when a woman says 'no', she means 'no'." | "But I think it's one of those occasions whey they won't take no for an answer and when a woman says 'no', she means 'no'." |
| 'Forward-looking case' | 'Forward-looking case' |
| Ex-Europe minister Denis MacShane welcomed the foreign secretary's comments, adding that "ministers and Labour MPs should follow Miliband's leadership" in turning their fire on the Tories. | Ex-Europe minister Denis MacShane welcomed the foreign secretary's comments, adding that "ministers and Labour MPs should follow Miliband's leadership" in turning their fire on the Tories. |
| He described Mr Miliband's article as "a sharp and welcome contrast to the self-indulgent, defeatist briefings by ministers in the last few days". | He described Mr Miliband's article as "a sharp and welcome contrast to the self-indulgent, defeatist briefings by ministers in the last few days". |
| "David's succinct and forward-looking case for Labour, combined with his deconstruction of the emptiness and contradictions of Cameronism, is to be welcomed," he said. | "David's succinct and forward-looking case for Labour, combined with his deconstruction of the emptiness and contradictions of Cameronism, is to be welcomed," he said. |