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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 an earlier call from Foreign Secretary David Miliband for Labour to start afresh.Meanwhile, former transport minister Stephen Byers echoed an earlier call from Foreign Secretary David Miliband for Labour to start afresh.
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 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 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."
Mr Denham added he believed Mr Brown would lead Labour in the next general election and that the party would win.Mr Denham added he believed Mr Brown would lead Labour in the next general election and that the party would win.
'Strong purpose''Strong purpose'
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.
"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.
"Someone whose hard work and ability over the last 11 years has made Britain better off."Someone whose hard work and ability over the last 11 years has made Britain better off.
"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".
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.
John Denham criticises leadership speculation
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.
But he added: "We need to be careful in the way that we make our argument that we don't do things that inadvertently stop there being a good platform for Labour's case to come across."But he added: "We need to be careful in the way that we make our argument that we don't do things that inadvertently stop there being a good platform for Labour's case to come across."
'Worthy initiatives''Worthy initiatives'
Speaking to the Observer, former transport minister Mr Byers said Labour had a "political mountain to climb in order to win the next election".Speaking to the Observer, former transport minister Mr Byers said Labour had a "political mountain to climb in order to win the next election".
But Labour needed bolder ideas as "we have a multitude of small policies and worthy initiatives that are more suited to a Sunday afternoon stroll".But 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.
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.