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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Miliband denies 'leadership' bid | Miliband denies 'leadership' bid |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| David Miliband has insisted he is not "campaigning" for the Labour leadership - despite writing about the party's future with no mention of Gordon Brown. | David Miliband has insisted he is not "campaigning" for the Labour leadership - despite writing about the party's future with no mention of Gordon Brown. |
| He said he was prompted to write his Guardian article because of the sense of "fatalism" in the party after its defeat in the Glasgow East by-election. | He said he was prompted to write his Guardian article because of the sense of "fatalism" in the party after its defeat in the Glasgow East by-election. |
| "Can Gordon lead us into the next election and win? Yes. I'm absolutely confident about that," he said. | "Can Gordon lead us into the next election and win? Yes. I'm absolutely confident about that," he said. |
| He said his article was challenging David Cameron, rather than Mr Brown. | He said his article was challenging David Cameron, rather than Mr Brown. |
| His Guardian piece dominated the questions at a press conference held with Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini. | His Guardian piece dominated the questions at a press conference held with Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini. |
| In his article Mr Miliband, touted as a potential replacement if Mr Brown stepped down, urged Labour to find confidence to make its case afresh. | In his article Mr Miliband, touted as a potential replacement if Mr Brown stepped down, urged Labour to find confidence to make its case afresh. |
| We have got a good leader who has got important values David MilibandForeign Secretary | We have got a good leader who has got important values David MilibandForeign Secretary |
| But asked directly if this suggested he was planning a leadership bid, Mr Miliband said: "No, I'm not campaigning for anything other than a successful Labour government. | But asked directly if this suggested he was planning a leadership bid, Mr Miliband said: "No, I'm not campaigning for anything other than a successful Labour government. |
| "The truth is we had a very bad result in the Glasgow by-election. I was frustrated by the sense of fatalism that had imbued in parts of the media and the Labour party... | "The truth is we had a very bad result in the Glasgow by-election. I was frustrated by the sense of fatalism that had imbued in parts of the media and the Labour party... |
| "Gordon will lead us forward and the rest of us have a contribution to make. | "Gordon will lead us forward and the rest of us have a contribution to make. |
| "It was an article whose second paragraph said the debate has to be about issues and argument and not about personalities. Now I might be wrong about this. You might insist that personality comes before issue and argument, I don't believe that .... | "It was an article whose second paragraph said the debate has to be about issues and argument and not about personalities. Now I might be wrong about this. You might insist that personality comes before issue and argument, I don't believe that .... |
| "Does Gordon Brown have those values and that vision? Yes." | "Does Gordon Brown have those values and that vision? Yes." |
| 'Suicide' | 'Suicide' |
| He added: "We have got a leader. We have got a good leader who has got important values." | He added: "We have got a leader. We have got a good leader who has got important values." |
| Why do I and most political observers refuse to take David Miliband's article at face value? Nick RobinsonBBC political editor class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2008/07/context_is_ever.html">Read Nick's blog in full His comments came after Welsh first minister Rhodri Morgan said anyone planning to challenge Mr Brown this autumn would be "committing suicide". | |
| Ex-cabinet minister Peter Mandelson admitted Labour was "in some flux" and said it would be surprising if someone like Mr Miliband "didn't address the challenges the government is facing". | Ex-cabinet minister Peter Mandelson admitted Labour was "in some flux" and said it would be surprising if someone like Mr Miliband "didn't address the challenges the government is facing". |
| Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman reiterated her case that she was not planning a leadership bid, saying: "When a woman says no, she means no." | Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman reiterated her case that she was not planning a leadership bid, saying: "When a woman says no, she means no." |
| And Home Secretary Jacqui Smith laughed off suggestions Labour could be about to replace Mr Brown with someone "young and hip". | And Home Secretary Jacqui Smith laughed off suggestions Labour could be about to replace Mr Brown with someone "young and hip". |
| "I don't think that's what we want at a time when people are worried about the economy," she said. | "I don't think that's what we want at a time when people are worried about the economy," she said. |