This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7539364.stm

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 10 Version 11
Ministers rally to support Brown Ministers rally to support Brown
(20 minutes later)
Three cabinet ministers have rallied to the prime minister's defence, insisting he is the right man for the job.Three cabinet ministers have rallied to the prime minister's defence, insisting he is the right man for the job.
Alistair Darling, Harriet Harman and John Denham have declared their support for the beleaguered Gordon Brown.Alistair Darling, Harriet Harman and John Denham have declared their support for the beleaguered Gordon Brown.
Skills Secretary Mr Denham told BBC One Mr Brown had a "profound understanding of what this country needs".Skills Secretary Mr Denham told BBC One Mr Brown had a "profound understanding of what this country needs".
Meanwhile, former transport minister Stephen Byers echoed a previous call from Foreign Secretary David Miliband for Labour to start afresh. Meanwhile, John McDonnell, the Labour MP who mounted an unsuccessful leadership bid last year, told the BBC that he would stand in a new contest.
We have in Gordon Brown as prime minister the person in British politics who understands better than anybody else the nature of the international challenges facing us Skills Secretary John Denham Mr Denham told the BBC One's Andrew Marr programme that a summer of leadership speculation would not be helpful, and that the time would be better spent making the case for Labour.We have in Gordon Brown as prime minister the person in British politics who understands better than anybody else the nature of the international challenges facing us Skills Secretary John Denham Mr Denham told the BBC One's Andrew Marr programme that a summer of leadership speculation would not be helpful, and that the time would be better spent making the case for Labour.
"We knew what Gordon's strengths were when people like me nominated him and supported him, and it was his profound understanding of what this country needs."We knew what Gordon's strengths were when people like me nominated him and supported him, and it was his profound understanding of what this country needs.
"The rest of us in cabinet need to communicate that effectively," he said."The rest of us in cabinet need to communicate that effectively," he said.
"Anything that gets in the way of all of us as a team putting that message across effectively is a distraction from what needs to be done, and is in danger of letting David Cameron win by default.""Anything that gets in the way of all of us as a team putting that message across effectively is a distraction from what needs to be done, and is in danger of letting David Cameron win by default."
'Best man''Best man'
Earlier, deputy leader Harriet Harman told the News of the World that the party needed someone who had the ability to see Britain through the current economic downturn.Earlier, deputy leader Harriet Harman told the News of the World that the party needed someone who had the ability to see Britain through the current economic downturn.
John Denham criticises leadership speculationJohn Denham criticises leadership speculation
"When you face these kinds of global problems you need as prime minister someone who is respected," she said."When you face these kinds of global problems you need as prime minister someone who is respected," she said.
"Gordon Brown is the right person for the job.""Gordon Brown is the right person for the job."
And Chancellor Alistair Darling praised the prime minister's "determination and strong purpose".And Chancellor Alistair Darling praised the prime minister's "determination and strong purpose".
Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks also rallied to Mr Brown's defence, saying he hoped the Tories' current lead in the polls would lead to increased scrutiny of Mr Cameron's policies.Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks also rallied to Mr Brown's defence, saying he hoped the Tories' current lead in the polls would lead to increased scrutiny of Mr Cameron's policies.
"I say, not just out of mere loyalty but because I believe it, that I think Gordon Brown remains the best man for the job and I am confident that he is going to lead us into a general election," Mr Wicks told Sky News."I say, not just out of mere loyalty but because I believe it, that I think Gordon Brown remains the best man for the job and I am confident that he is going to lead us into a general election," Mr Wicks told Sky News.
Both Mr Wicks and Mr Denham said they believed the Labour party could win the next election.Both Mr Wicks and Mr Denham said they believed the Labour party could win the next election.
Speculation over Mr Brown's position has raged since Labour's recent by-election defeat in Glasgow East.Speculation over Mr Brown's position has raged since Labour's recent by-election defeat in Glasgow East.
The ministers' comments follow an article written by Foreign Secretary David Miliband earlier this week, in which he discussed Labour's future without mentioning Mr Brown - and thus sparked speculation about the leadership of the party.The ministers' comments follow an article written by Foreign Secretary David Miliband earlier this week, in which he discussed Labour's future without mentioning Mr Brown - and thus sparked speculation about the leadership of the party.
Mr Denham said he did not agree with some Labour backbenchers who had called for the foreign secretary to be sacked, saying Mr Miliband had made a "good case" for Labour.Mr Denham said he did not agree with some Labour backbenchers who had called for the foreign secretary to be sacked, saying Mr Miliband had made a "good case" for Labour.
'Worthy initiatives''Worthy initiatives'
Earlier, former transport minister Mr Byers told the Observer Labour had a "political mountain to climb in order to win the next election". Earlier, former transport minister Stephen Byers told the Observer Labour had a "political mountain to climb in order to win the next election".
HAVE YOUR SAYWhat I would like to see is a new party - possibly one with ex-military and business leaders involved to get back the Great in Great Britain.Richard, NewburySend us your commentsBut Labour needed bolder ideas as "we have a multitude of small policies and worthy initiatives that are more suited to a Sunday afternoon stroll".HAVE YOUR SAYWhat I would like to see is a new party - possibly one with ex-military and business leaders involved to get back the Great in Great Britain.Richard, NewburySend us your commentsBut Labour needed bolder ideas as "we have a multitude of small policies and worthy initiatives that are more suited to a Sunday afternoon stroll".
Mr Denham dismissed Mr Byers' claim that Labour lacked big ideas, insisting there was "huge ambition, huge drive, huge determination" on issues like schools and energy.Mr Denham dismissed Mr Byers' claim that Labour lacked big ideas, insisting there was "huge ambition, huge drive, huge determination" on issues like schools and energy.
John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, called for would-be leadership challengers to "come out of the dark" and publicly declare themselves by the party's September conference. Mr McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, called for would-be leadership challengers to "come out of the dark" and publicly declare themselves by the party's September conference.
Mr McDonnell said: "In the long-term interests of our party, the people we seek to represent and indeed the country, we desperately need to find a way out of this mess and to end the personal dogfighting and to help restore some dignity to the standing of the Labour Party and our government." Mr McDonnell said: "We desperately need to find a way out of this mess and to end the personal dogfighting and to help restore some dignity to the standing of the Labour party and our government."
He later told the BBC that he would stand in a leadership contest, but called for the requirement for candidates to be nominated by 71 Labour MPs to be dropped.
Mr McDonnell's challenge of Mr Brown for the leadership failed when he could not secure enough signatures to get onto the ballot paper.
Meanwhile, The Mail on Sunday has published a secret memo in which former PM Tony Blair accused Mr Brown of playing into Tory leader Mr Cameron's hands with a "lamentable" and "vacuous" performance as prime minister.Meanwhile, The Mail on Sunday has published a secret memo in which former PM Tony Blair accused Mr Brown of playing into Tory leader Mr Cameron's hands with a "lamentable" and "vacuous" performance as prime minister.
The leaked memo, which was written in the aftermath of Labour's conference last year, says the prime minister junked Tony Blair's agenda but had nothing to put in its place.The leaked memo, which was written in the aftermath of Labour's conference last year, says the prime minister junked Tony Blair's agenda but had nothing to put in its place.
A spokesman for Mr Blair told the paper that the former prime minister was 100% behind Mr Brown, but declined to comment on the memo itself.A spokesman for Mr Blair told the paper that the former prime minister was 100% behind Mr Brown, but declined to comment on the memo itself.