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Ryan adds to Labour contest call Third MP in Labour contest call
(40 minutes later)
Labour MP Joan Ryan says she has written to the party asking for a leadership election. A third Labour MP has confirmed he has written to the party asking for a leadership election.
Ms Ryan, vice chair of the party, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that she had asked for nomination papers. Knowsley North MP George Howarth confirmed the move, after Labour Party vice chair Joan Ryan said she had asked for nomination papers to be issued.
It comes after junior whip Siobhain McDonagh was fired after saying she wanted the debate on Gordon Brown's leadership to be out in the open. It comes after junior whip Siobhain McDonagh was fired for calling for a debate on Gordon Brown's leadership.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said party had told him nine Labour MPs had written asking for nomination papers. The Labour Party has told the BBC that nine of its MPs have asked for papers to be sent out.
Former Home Office minister Mr Howarth - who has signed a magazine article calling on the party to be "bold" - told the BBC he had made his request for nomination papers to be sent out roughly two weeks ago.
'Hard to do''Hard to do'
Several more Labour MPs are expected to air their views in the next few days.Several more Labour MPs are expected to air their views in the next few days.
Meanwhile, six former ministers are among 12 Labour MPs who signed the article in Progress magazine calling for a "convincing new narrative" from Labour.Meanwhile, six former ministers are among 12 Labour MPs who signed the article in Progress magazine calling for a "convincing new narrative" from Labour.
Ms Ryan told the Today programme she was not part of a plot.Ms Ryan told the Today programme she was not part of a plot.
"I know there's a lot of people feel the same way and I know they find it very difficult to openly raise this issue," she said."I know there's a lot of people feel the same way and I know they find it very difficult to openly raise this issue," she said.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
"I find it very hard. I'm a loyalist to my government. I have never voted against my government. This is a very hard thing to do."I find it very hard. I'm a loyalist to my government. I have never voted against my government. This is a very hard thing to do.
"But I actually feel now this is the most responsible thing I can do and I would be irresponsible if I didn't now speak up.""But I actually feel now this is the most responsible thing I can do and I would be irresponsible if I didn't now speak up."
But Tony Lloyd, the chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, said he did not know of any great amount of support for Ms Ryan's position.But Tony Lloyd, the chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, said he did not know of any great amount of support for Ms Ryan's position.
"What it does represent is a handful of people who are not joined by the overwhelming majority of Labour MPs," he said."What it does represent is a handful of people who are not joined by the overwhelming majority of Labour MPs," he said.
I believe that those involved in this believe they do not currently have the numbers, but they want to create a momentum BBC political editor Nick Robinson I believe that those involved in this believe they do not currently have the numbers, but they want to create a momentum BBC political editor Nick Robinson class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/">Read Nick Robinson's blog
In an interview in the Daily Telegraph, Schools Secretary Ed Balls, one of Gordon Brown's most senior allies, said there was "very little chance" of the prime minister being ousted before the next election.In an interview in the Daily Telegraph, Schools Secretary Ed Balls, one of Gordon Brown's most senior allies, said there was "very little chance" of the prime minister being ousted before the next election.
Seventy MPs would have to nominate a challenger to Gordon Brown to force a leadership contest.Seventy MPs would have to nominate a challenger to Gordon Brown to force a leadership contest.
The BBC's Nick Robinson said: "I believe that those involved in this believe they do not currently have the numbers, but they want to create a momentum."The BBC's Nick Robinson said: "I believe that those involved in this believe they do not currently have the numbers, but they want to create a momentum."
He added: "There will be MPs thinking 'is it time for me to move?'"He added: "There will be MPs thinking 'is it time for me to move?'"
'New narrative''New narrative'
The article in Progress said: "Labour needs to provide a convincing new narrative if left-of-centre politics are to remain the driving force in Britain.The article in Progress said: "Labour needs to provide a convincing new narrative if left-of-centre politics are to remain the driving force in Britain.
Our most urgent task is to renew confidence in our economic competence so that people know that the country will come out of the current downturn with a resilient economy and a cohesive society Progress articleOur most urgent task is to renew confidence in our economic competence so that people know that the country will come out of the current downturn with a resilient economy and a cohesive society Progress article
"This has to be more than a series of policy initiatives. It has to set a new framework for post-credit crunch Britain.""This has to be more than a series of policy initiatives. It has to set a new framework for post-credit crunch Britain."
They also said it was an urgent task for the party to "renew confidence in our economic competence", and described recent policies as being "defensive" when the party needed to be "bold".They also said it was an urgent task for the party to "renew confidence in our economic competence", and described recent policies as being "defensive" when the party needed to be "bold".
The article's signatories include former culture minister Janet Anderson, ex-Home Office minister George Howarth, former Transport ministers Stephen Ladyman and Karen Buck and Paddy Tipping, who was deputy leader of the Commons. The article's signatories include former culture minister Janet Anderson, Mr Howarth, former Transport ministers Stephen Ladyman and Karen Buck and Paddy Tipping, who was deputy leader of the Commons.
Also putting their name to the article are backbenchers Eric Joyce, Sally Keeble, Martin Linton, Shona McIsaac, Margaret Moran and Tom Levitt.Also putting their name to the article are backbenchers Eric Joyce, Sally Keeble, Martin Linton, Shona McIsaac, Margaret Moran and Tom Levitt.