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| PM sacks critic Gardiner as envoy | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown has sacked Labour MP Barry Gardiner as his special envoy for forestry after he joined the list of MPs calling for a leadership challenge. | |
| The PM's spokesman confirmed the axing at the same time as insisting that Mr Brown was focused on the big issues of the economy and public services. | |
| Meanwhile Labour officials have denied breaching the party's constitution, by ignoring MPs' leader election calls. | |
| About 12 MPs have asked for nomination forms to be sent to all Labour MPs. | |
| They cite a clause stating nominations shall be sought each year but the party says papers have not been sent out for several years. | They cite a clause stating nominations shall be sought each year but the party says papers have not been sent out for several years. |
| Mr Gardiner joins Joan Ryan and Siobhain McDonagh who have both been sacked from government jobs for calling for a leadership challenge. | |
| He accused Mr Brown at the weekend of "vacillation, loss of international credibility and timorous political manoeuvres that the public cannot understand". | |
| The rebel MPs need 71 Labour MPs to nominate a challenger if they are to bring about a leadership election and have requested nomination papers be sent out to all MPs, ahead of next week's party conference. | The rebel MPs need 71 Labour MPs to nominate a challenger if they are to bring about a leadership election and have requested nomination papers be sent out to all MPs, ahead of next week's party conference. |
| Different rules | Different rules |
| But Labour's general secretary, Ray Collins, has not distributed them, saying the convention of the last 11 years is that they are only sent out to individual MPs upon request. | But Labour's general secretary, Ray Collins, has not distributed them, saying the convention of the last 11 years is that they are only sent out to individual MPs upon request. |
| Critics say this breaches clause 4B 2 of the constitution, which states "where there is no vacancy, nominations shall be sought each year prior to the annual session of the party conference." | Critics say this breaches clause 4B 2 of the constitution, which states "where there is no vacancy, nominations shall be sought each year prior to the annual session of the party conference." |
| I've said I expect Gordon to lead us into the next general election. I will support him in doing so David MilibandForeign Secretary | I've said I expect Gordon to lead us into the next general election. I will support him in doing so David MilibandForeign Secretary |
| They hope to challenge the decision at Tuesday's meeting of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee. | They hope to challenge the decision at Tuesday's meeting of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee. |
| But senior officials say the rules are different when the party is in power, and nomination papers have not been sent out for several years. | But senior officials say the rules are different when the party is in power, and nomination papers have not been sent out for several years. |
| Among those who have called for a contest are former minister Fiona Mactaggart, Joan Ryan - who was sacked as Labour vice chair for doing so, former minister Frank Field and Siobhain McDonagh, who was fired as a junior whip. | Among those who have called for a contest are former minister Fiona Mactaggart, Joan Ryan - who was sacked as Labour vice chair for doing so, former minister Frank Field and Siobhain McDonagh, who was fired as a junior whip. |
| 'Right person' | 'Right person' |
| But on Sunday Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who has been touted as a possible future leader, said he supported Mr Brown and rejected the rebels' calls for a leadership election. | But on Sunday Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who has been touted as a possible future leader, said he supported Mr Brown and rejected the rebels' calls for a leadership election. |
| He told the BBC: "I don't support their argument that we should trigger a leadership contest. | He told the BBC: "I don't support their argument that we should trigger a leadership contest. |
| "I've said I expect Gordon to lead us into the next general election. I will support him in doing so." | "I've said I expect Gordon to lead us into the next general election. I will support him in doing so." |
| Deputy leader Harriet Harman also said she did not believe there would be a leadership contest and said it was "an error of judgement" to call for one as the government should be focussed on getting through "difficult economic times". She said Mr Brown was "exactly the right person" to get Britain through the difficulties. | Deputy leader Harriet Harman also said she did not believe there would be a leadership contest and said it was "an error of judgement" to call for one as the government should be focussed on getting through "difficult economic times". She said Mr Brown was "exactly the right person" to get Britain through the difficulties. |
| Business Secretary John Hutton said he supported Mr Brown, but said he would not criticise his colleagues who "want Labour to do better" and it was for the whole cabinet to raise its game. | Business Secretary John Hutton said he supported Mr Brown, but said he would not criticise his colleagues who "want Labour to do better" and it was for the whole cabinet to raise its game. |