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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Labour chiefs block rebel request | Labour chiefs block rebel request |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Nomination forms for a party leadership contest will not be sent out to all Labour MPs, the party's ruling National Executive Committee has ruled. | Nomination forms for a party leadership contest will not be sent out to all Labour MPs, the party's ruling National Executive Committee has ruled. |
| Twelve Labour rebels have requested the forms and say under party rules, they should be sent to all Labour MPs ahead of the party conference. | Twelve Labour rebels have requested the forms and say under party rules, they should be sent to all Labour MPs ahead of the party conference. |
| But the NEC backed the party's general secretary's decision not to send them. | But the NEC backed the party's general secretary's decision not to send them. |
| NEC chair Dianne Hayter said the rules were clear and a contest could only be triggered by a card vote at conference. | NEC chair Dianne Hayter said the rules were clear and a contest could only be triggered by a card vote at conference. |
| Three junior members of the government - whip Siobhain McDonagh, vice chairman Joan Ryan and special envoy Barry Gardiner - have left their jobs since Friday after calling for a leadership contest. | Three junior members of the government - whip Siobhain McDonagh, vice chairman Joan Ryan and special envoy Barry Gardiner - have left their jobs since Friday after calling for a leadership contest. |
| Rebel MPs | Rebel MPs |
| There have been reports that Scotland Office minister David Cairns is considering his position, but Downing Street sources have told the BBC he has not informed them he intends to resign. | There have been reports that Scotland Office minister David Cairns is considering his position, but Downing Street sources have told the BBC he has not informed them he intends to resign. |
| The twelve rebels hoping to prompt a leadership contest would need the support of 70 Labour MPs to do so. | The twelve rebels hoping to prompt a leadership contest would need the support of 70 Labour MPs to do so. |
| They had requested nomination forms be sent out to all MPs, arguing the party's constitution states that nominations "shall be sought each year". | They had requested nomination forms be sent out to all MPs, arguing the party's constitution states that nominations "shall be sought each year". |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME |
| General secretary Ray Collins had refused, saying that had not been the convention for 11 years. | General secretary Ray Collins had refused, saying that had not been the convention for 11 years. |
| Among the rebels was NEC member Janet Anderson, but she was not at Tuesday's meeting. | Among the rebels was NEC member Janet Anderson, but she was not at Tuesday's meeting. |
| In a statement released after the meeting, Ms Hayter said "internal procedural debates" would not divert the party "from our mission of building a fairer Britain and helping people through these challenging times". | In a statement released after the meeting, Ms Hayter said "internal procedural debates" would not divert the party "from our mission of building a fairer Britain and helping people through these challenging times". |
| "The NEC fully endorses the view of the Labour Party's general secretary and the party's independent legal advisers. | "The NEC fully endorses the view of the Labour Party's general secretary and the party's independent legal advisers. |
| "A leadership election when in government can only be held if requested by a majority of party conference on a card vote. Only Labour MPs can trigger the process and the NEC is confident that most MPs know their responsibilities under the rules." | "A leadership election when in government can only be held if requested by a majority of party conference on a card vote. Only Labour MPs can trigger the process and the NEC is confident that most MPs know their responsibilities under the rules." |
| 'Right person' | 'Right person' |
| Earlier Chancellor Alistair Darling urged Labour colleagues to "get behind" Gordon Brown. | Earlier Chancellor Alistair Darling urged Labour colleagues to "get behind" Gordon Brown. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme what concerned people was issues like the collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers - which in turn has seen shares fall in leading Asian markets. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme what concerned people was issues like the collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers - which in turn has seen shares fall in leading Asian markets. |
| If they refuse a leadership contest, people will ask 'what has Brown got to be afraid of? Siobhain McDonaghRebel MP class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7618581.stm">NEC nominations statement class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7616577.stm">Q&A: Brown under pressure | |
| He said: "What I'd say is this, to my colleagues in particular, if you look at the front pages today, people of this country, as in other parts of the world, are concerned that at this time of unprecedented turbulence, we do everything we can to resolve these problems. | He said: "What I'd say is this, to my colleagues in particular, if you look at the front pages today, people of this country, as in other parts of the world, are concerned that at this time of unprecedented turbulence, we do everything we can to resolve these problems. |
| "That's what we should be looking at." | "That's what we should be looking at." |
| He added: "I have every confidence in Gordon Brown. I believe he is the right person to lead this country and to lead our party and I know that at the conference next week he will set out his vision for the future." | He added: "I have every confidence in Gordon Brown. I believe he is the right person to lead this country and to lead our party and I know that at the conference next week he will set out his vision for the future." |
| The Guardian newspaper reported that the rebels are aware of legal advice given to past Labour party general secretaries who have been told that the papers must be sent out if members of the parliamentary party ask for them. | The Guardian newspaper reported that the rebels are aware of legal advice given to past Labour party general secretaries who have been told that the papers must be sent out if members of the parliamentary party ask for them. |
| MP Siobhain McDonagh, another rebel who was sacked as a government whip on Friday, told the paper: "The leadership claim this rule has not been used in the past few years, but since when has a law become no longer lawful because it has not been used? | MP Siobhain McDonagh, another rebel who was sacked as a government whip on Friday, told the paper: "The leadership claim this rule has not been used in the past few years, but since when has a law become no longer lawful because it has not been used? |
| "If they refuse a leadership contest, people will ask 'what has Brown got to be afraid of?'" | "If they refuse a leadership contest, people will ask 'what has Brown got to be afraid of?'" |