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/7612355.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Labour MPs seek leadership vote Labour plays down leader bid talk
(30 minutes later)
A handful of Labour MPs have called for a leadership contest in the party, the BBC has learnt. Labour officials have played down talk of a challenge to Gordon Brown after a handful of MPs sought details about the nomination process for party leader.
Labour sources have confirmed they have received letters from a "small number" of MPs, thought to be in single figures, asking for a contest. Labour confirmed they have had letters from a "small number" of MPs asking why no nomination papers for leader were issued ahead of the party conference.
They said they had received a similar number of requests in previous years. Labour sources said such papers had not been posted out for 10 years and were freely available on its website.
The development will increase pressure on Gordon Brown whose efforts to rally the government with housing and energy initiatives have been criticised. It would take 71 MPs to trigger a potential leadership contest.
The development will keep the pressure on Gordon Brown whose efforts to rally the government with recent housing and energy initiatives have been criticised by the trade unions and some backbenchers.
RumblingsRumblings
A number of MPs have been particularly upset with the government's decision not to pursue a windfall tax on energy companies to help people cope with rising fuel bills this winter. A number of Labour MPs have been particularly upset with the government's decision not to pursue a windfall tax on energy companies to help people cope with rising fuel bills this winter.
It would take 71 Labour MPs to call for a leadership contest before it had to be put to the party conference.It would take 71 Labour MPs to call for a leadership contest before it had to be put to the party conference.
The development comes at the end of a week in which Mr Brown has sought to reassert his authority after a summer of rumblings about his leadership. Labour party officials said they had received a similar number of requests for information about leadership nominations in previous years.
It has become fashionable to have a go at Gordon at the moment but that will burn itself out Jack Straw, Justice Secretary
It comes at the end of a week in which Mr Brown has sought to reassert his authority after a summer of rumblings about his leadership.
In an article released ahead of Labour's conference later this month, Mr Brown pledged to "confront" personal challenges and said the UK would emerge a "stronger and fairer" country from the economic downturn.In an article released ahead of Labour's conference later this month, Mr Brown pledged to "confront" personal challenges and said the UK would emerge a "stronger and fairer" country from the economic downturn.
In a newspaper article on Friday, Cabinet colleague Jack Straw said the next election was "still Labour's to lose" despite polls showing the party consistently trailing the Conservatives.In a newspaper article on Friday, Cabinet colleague Jack Straw said the next election was "still Labour's to lose" despite polls showing the party consistently trailing the Conservatives.
The Justice Secretary backed Mr Brown but urged the party to reconnect with the priorities of voters in "Middle Britain".The Justice Secretary backed Mr Brown but urged the party to reconnect with the priorities of voters in "Middle Britain".
"We have already changed our leader and it was the right change," he said, referring to Mr Brown succeeding Tony Blair last year."We have already changed our leader and it was the right change," he said, referring to Mr Brown succeeding Tony Blair last year.
"It has become fashionable to have a go at Gordon at the moment but that will burn itself out.""It has become fashionable to have a go at Gordon at the moment but that will burn itself out."