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PM sacks critic Gardiner as envoy PM's envoy Gardiner leaves role
(40 minutes 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. A third member of the government has left their job after joining a 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. Barry Gardiner left his job as the PM's special envoy for forestry, days after Labour vice chair Joan Ryan and junior whip Siobhain McDonagh were sacked.
Gordon Brown's spokesman insisted the PM 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.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.
Mr Gardiner joins Joan Ryan and Siobhain McDonagh who have both been sacked from government jobs for calling for a leadership challenge.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". 'Mutual consent'
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. Mr Brown's spokesman said on Monday: "Barry Gardiner is no longer the prime minister's special representative on forestry matters. That happened by mutual consent over the weekend."
Different rules Mr Gardiner had accused Mr Brown at the weekend of "vacillation, loss of international credibility and timorous political manoeuvres that the public cannot understand".
The voters have made their mind up about Gordon and it's not a positive decision Graham StringerLabour rebel Q&A: The situation explained
But the spokesman said Mr Brown was not being distracted by the continued speculation, adding: "What the prime minister is doing is concentrating on the issues that matter to the country - the situation in the economy, what is happening in the financial markets, Northern Ireland and crime."
Mr Brown is due to attend a meeting of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee on Tuesday, which is expected to discuss whether nomination papers should be sent out.
About 12 rebel MPs have requested they be sent out to all MPs, ahead of next week's party conference. They need 70 Labour MPs to nominate a challenger if they are to bring about a leadership election.
Rules challenged
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 They believe a new set of nominations may show a large drop in support for Mr Brown, who last year was nominated by all but seven Labour MPs for the leadership.
They hope to challenge the decision at Tuesday's meeting of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee. The voters have made their mind up about Gordon and it's not a positive decision Graham StringerLabour MP class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7616243.stm">Who are the rebels?
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. However Graham Stringer, one of the 12 rebels calling for a leadership election, told the BBC News channel he did not think it would boil down to the "dry rules of the Labour Party" as the government was in an "unstable position" and the "real debate" was about the timing.
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. He denied destabilising the party saying: "That is absolutely not true. What is happening is not because 12 of us think there should be a leadership challenge, we think there should be a leadership challenge because the government is not doing its job very well."
'Right person' He added: "The voters have made their mind up about Gordon and it's not a positive decision."
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. 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. Deputy leader Harriet Harman also said she did not believe there would be a leadership contest and said Mr Brown was "exactly the right person" to get Britain through the difficulties.
"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.
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.