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Whip sacked over leader bid call Whip sacked over leader bid call
(30 minutes later)
A junior member of the government has been sacked after breaking ranks to call for a challenge to Prime Minister Gordon Brown as Labour leader.A junior member of the government has been sacked after breaking ranks to call for a challenge to Prime Minister Gordon Brown as Labour leader.
Assistant whip Siobhain McDonagh said she wanted a debate about the party's future and a "huge number" of other Labour MPs also wanted a contest.Assistant whip Siobhain McDonagh said she wanted a debate about the party's future and a "huge number" of other Labour MPs also wanted a contest.
A government spokesman said the Mitcham and Morden MP had always been "Anti-Gordon".A government spokesman said the Mitcham and Morden MP had always been "Anti-Gordon".
She has been replaced in the whips office by Brent South MP Dawn Butler.She has been replaced in the whips office by Brent South MP Dawn Butler.
Ms McDonagh - who was the only member of the government not to nominate Mr Brown for the party leadership last year - said she wanted a debate about the future of the party and the country.Ms McDonagh - who was the only member of the government not to nominate Mr Brown for the party leadership last year - said she wanted a debate about the future of the party and the country.
Debate callDebate call
She said "everybody" in government was talking about the leadership issue and she wanted such discussions to be out in the open.She said "everybody" in government was talking about the leadership issue and she wanted such discussions to be out in the open.
"It's about time we let party members and people involved in the Labour Party and the wider community in on that debate," she told the BBC News Channel."It's about time we let party members and people involved in the Labour Party and the wider community in on that debate," she told the BBC News Channel.
I think Gordon Brown is a really good man who has the best of intentions - I just think that being prime minster is a shockingly hard job Siobaihn McDonald Profile: Siobaihn McDonaghI think Gordon Brown is a really good man who has the best of intentions - I just think that being prime minster is a shockingly hard job Siobaihn McDonald Profile: Siobaihn McDonagh
"I think we need to clear the air. I think whoever wants to stand for leader of the Labour Party should do so and we should have a good debate about the direction of the party and the government.""I think we need to clear the air. I think whoever wants to stand for leader of the Labour Party should do so and we should have a good debate about the direction of the party and the government."
She insisted that she did not have a particular candidate in mind.She insisted that she did not have a particular candidate in mind.
But she told BBC Radio 4's PM "a huge number of Labour MPs want a leadership election".But she told BBC Radio 4's PM "a huge number of Labour MPs want a leadership election".
'Shockingly hard''Shockingly hard'
She refused to say whether she would back Gordon Brown or another candidate in a contest.She refused to say whether she would back Gordon Brown or another candidate in a contest.
Asked if Mr Brown had done a good job since taking over, she said: "I think Gordon Brown is a really good man who has the best of intentions. I just think that being prime minster is a shockingly hard job."Asked if Mr Brown had done a good job since taking over, she said: "I think Gordon Brown is a really good man who has the best of intentions. I just think that being prime minster is a shockingly hard job."
The Labour Party is quite clearly degenerating into a state of civil war Chris GraylingShadow cabinet member
Asked whether she felt he was "shockingly bad" at it, she said not.Asked whether she felt he was "shockingly bad" at it, she said not.
Ms McDonagh is so far the only member of the government to publicly call for a leadership contest.Ms McDonagh is so far the only member of the government to publicly call for a leadership contest.
She added: "If I could have found an easier way, or a quieter way, to do this then I would have done it.She added: "If I could have found an easier way, or a quieter way, to do this then I would have done it.
"But everyone's saying 'you first'. I didn't want to be in a position where I'd look back in five years' time and think I could have done the right thing but didn't do it.""But everyone's saying 'you first'. I didn't want to be in a position where I'd look back in five years' time and think I could have done the right thing but didn't do it."
She is among a small group of Labour MPs to have sought details about the nomination process for a contest.She is among a small group of Labour MPs to have sought details about the nomination process for a contest.
She told PM she had written to Labour's general secretary in confidence to ask for nomination papers but had been forced to go public with her concerns after being contacted by a journalist.She told PM she had written to Labour's general secretary in confidence to ask for nomination papers but had been forced to go public with her concerns after being contacted by a journalist.
'Destruction''Destruction'
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.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.
It would take 70 MPs to trigger a potential leadership contest.It would take 70 MPs to trigger a potential leadership contest.
Labour MP Emily Thornberry mounted a defence of Mr Brown's premiership on PM, saying the public would not "respect" Ms McDonagh for her call.Labour MP Emily Thornberry mounted a defence of Mr Brown's premiership on PM, saying the public would not "respect" Ms McDonagh for her call.
And the reason no alternative candidate had come forward to challenge Mr Brown is that he was "best qualified" to steer the country through difficult economic times.And the reason no alternative candidate had come forward to challenge Mr Brown is that he was "best qualified" to steer the country through difficult economic times.
But Chris Grayling, for the Conservatives, said: "The Labour Party is quite clearly degenerating into a state of civil war.
For a Prime Minister to have one of his own whips calling for a leadership contest is unprecedented.
"At a time when Britain faces massive economic challenges it is profoundly damaging to have a government in such disarray. We need an early election to get the change Britain so desperately needs."
'Destruction'
Backbencher Graham Stringer was the first Labour MP to call for Mr Brown to step down, after the party's defeat at the Crewe and Nantwich by-election in May.Backbencher Graham Stringer was the first Labour MP to call for Mr Brown to step down, after the party's defeat at the Crewe and Nantwich by-election in May.
And former Home Secretary Charles Clarke last week warned the party faced "destruction" at the next general election - and told Mr Brown to improve his performance or quit.And former Home Secretary Charles Clarke last week warned the party faced "destruction" at the next general election - and told Mr Brown to improve his performance or quit.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband made what was widely interpreted as a leadership move when he penned an article over the summer on Labour's future without mentioning Mr Brown.Foreign Secretary David Miliband made what was widely interpreted as a leadership move when he penned an article over the summer on Labour's future without mentioning Mr Brown.
But he has now publicly backed the prime minister to lead Labour into the next election.But he has now publicly backed the prime minister to lead Labour into the next election.
Other figures thought likely to run if there was a contest - Jack Straw and Harriet Harman - have also said they do not think there should be a contest.Other figures thought likely to run if there was a contest - Jack Straw and Harriet Harman - have also said they do not think there should be a contest.
But Ms McDonagh's intervention means the issue is likely to dominate Labour's annual conference which gets underway in Manchester in two weeks time.But Ms McDonagh's intervention means the issue is likely to dominate Labour's annual conference which gets underway in Manchester in two weeks time.