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Labour is 'neither down nor out' Labour not down or out - Miliband
(20 minutes later)
Labour is "not down and out", despite its recent by-election defeat in Glasgow and poor poll ratings, Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said.Labour is "not down and out", despite its recent by-election defeat in Glasgow and poor poll ratings, Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said.
The party was "determined" to be clear about its values, its vision for the UK and the need to ensure there was "real choice at the next election", he added. The party was "determined" to be clear about its values, and ensure a "real choice at the next election", he added.
Mr Miliband told BBC Radio 2 he was "not running a leadership campaign". Mr Miliband told BBC Radio 2 he was "not running a leadership campaign" against Gordon Brown.
An article by Mr Miliband on Labour's future sparked speculation he would bid to take over from Gordon Brown. But two Labour backbenchers want him to be sacked over an article which led to speculation he wanted to be leader.
Geraldine Smith said Mr Miliband was "trying to stir up trouble" with a piece in The Guardian talking about Labour's future which did not mention Mr Brown.
And Bob Marshall-Andrews accused him of "pretty contemptible politics", adding his behaviour had been "duplicitous".
But the foreign secretary insisted the article had been intended as a challenge to Conservative leader David Cameron rather than to the prime minister.
'Dose of salt''Dose of salt'
The Guardian article did not mention Mr Brown, but the foreign secretary insisted it had been intended as a challenge to Conservative leader David Cameron rather than to the prime minister. Many of Thursday's newspapers claimed Mr Brown's allies were angry at Mr Miliband for perceived disloyalty, although these reports were attributed to unidentified sources within Labour.
Many of Thursday's newspapers claim Mr Brown's allies are angry at Mr Miliband for perceived disloyalty, although these reports are attributed to unidentified sources within Labour.
But Mr Miliband told Radio 2's Jeremy Vine Show that he always took anonymous quotes "with a very large dose of salt".But Mr Miliband told Radio 2's Jeremy Vine Show that he always took anonymous quotes "with a very large dose of salt".
Former minister Denis MacShane called for an end to such anonymous briefings against the foreign secretary, saying these risked harming Britain's standing in the world.Former minister Denis MacShane called for an end to such anonymous briefings against the foreign secretary, saying these risked harming Britain's standing in the world.
"The national interest is now being damaged by these anonymous attacks on Miliband and they should stop now," he said."The national interest is now being damaged by these anonymous attacks on Miliband and they should stop now," he said.
On Tuesday, Labour's deputy leader, Harriet Harman, insisted she was "not preparing the ground for a leadership election" and said she did not accept Mr Brown's spell as leader was "over".On Tuesday, Labour's deputy leader, Harriet Harman, insisted she was "not preparing the ground for a leadership election" and said she did not accept Mr Brown's spell as leader was "over".
'Ultimate test''Ultimate test'
Meanwhile Labour must avoid being too "timid" if it is to win the next election, Health Minister Ivan Lewis has said.Meanwhile Labour must avoid being too "timid" if it is to win the next election, Health Minister Ivan Lewis has said.
He called on Mr Brown to be a "decisive" leader, saying that "the only way forward now is bold Labour".He called on Mr Brown to be a "decisive" leader, saying that "the only way forward now is bold Labour".
Voters needed reassurance that Labour was "on their side", the MP for Bury South told The Independent.Voters needed reassurance that Labour was "on their side", the MP for Bury South told The Independent.
The way forward was "bold Labour", not "old Labour", Mr Lewis saidIn an interview with the Independent, Mr Lewis said the measure of any political party was revealed "in the bad time and not the good time".The way forward was "bold Labour", not "old Labour", Mr Lewis saidIn an interview with the Independent, Mr Lewis said the measure of any political party was revealed "in the bad time and not the good time".
"We now face the ultimate test. People have a decision to make. But there's one thing that's absolutely clear - it's that the public don't vote for divided parties.""We now face the ultimate test. People have a decision to make. But there's one thing that's absolutely clear - it's that the public don't vote for divided parties."
He said he expected Labour to win the next election, which must take place by May 2010, adding his party had "got to believe" this was possible.He said he expected Labour to win the next election, which must take place by May 2010, adding his party had "got to believe" this was possible.
"If we don't believe that we can still win, how do we expect the electorate to believe that?""If we don't believe that we can still win, how do we expect the electorate to believe that?"
And Mr Lewis added that his party's defeat in Glasgow East last week "confirmed my view that timidity and incremental change will not deal with the way people feel right now".And Mr Lewis added that his party's defeat in Glasgow East last week "confirmed my view that timidity and incremental change will not deal with the way people feel right now".
The Scottish National Party overturned a majority of 13,507 to win a seat previously considered to be one of Labour's safest with a swing of nearly 23%.The Scottish National Party overturned a majority of 13,507 to win a seat previously considered to be one of Labour's safest with a swing of nearly 23%.