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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Harman denies leadership ambition | Harman denies leadership ambition |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Labour's deputy leader, Harriet Harman, has insisted she had no ambition to replace Gordon Brown as prime minister. | Labour's deputy leader, Harriet Harman, has insisted she had no ambition to replace Gordon Brown as prime minister. |
| She told BBC's Newsnight there was "not an iota of truth" she had positioned herself to take over the top job. | She told BBC's Newsnight there was "not an iota of truth" she had positioned herself to take over the top job. |
| Mr Brown has dismissed as "gossip" newspaper speculation that he could step down to take up a new role as global financial regulator. | Mr Brown has dismissed as "gossip" newspaper speculation that he could step down to take up a new role as global financial regulator. |
| He told his monthly press conference there was no possibility of such a job and the recession was his priority. | He told his monthly press conference there was no possibility of such a job and the recession was his priority. |
| Ms Harman told Newsnight: "I'm proud to be Gordon's loyal deputy and that's exactly what I am. | Ms Harman told Newsnight: "I'm proud to be Gordon's loyal deputy and that's exactly what I am. |
| 'Utter nonsense' | 'Utter nonsense' |
| "I'm determined to support Gordon as the prime minister of this country, as he takes the country through what are very difficult economic times. | "I'm determined to support Gordon as the prime minister of this country, as he takes the country through what are very difficult economic times. |
| "And people in my constituency and people in the Labour Party would expect me to do that, and that is exactly what I'm doing, and nothing else." | "And people in my constituency and people in the Labour Party would expect me to do that, and that is exactly what I'm doing, and nothing else." |
| The Guardian reported earlier this week that Mr Brown was being touted as a global regulator - prompting a flurry of Labour leadership speculation. | The Guardian reported earlier this week that Mr Brown was being touted as a global regulator - prompting a flurry of Labour leadership speculation. |
| Harriet Harman: 'I'm proud to be Gordon's loyal deputy' | |
| Guardian columnist Jackie Ashley wrote that German chancellor Angela Merkel was pushing for Mr Brown to leave Downing Street to head a new global financial regulation body. | Guardian columnist Jackie Ashley wrote that German chancellor Angela Merkel was pushing for Mr Brown to leave Downing Street to head a new global financial regulation body. |
| The story was reported by political blogs to have been planted by Ms Harman as part of a campaign to destabilise Mr Brown. | The story was reported by political blogs to have been planted by Ms Harman as part of a campaign to destabilise Mr Brown. |
| But this was denied by Downing Street, which described it as "utter nonsense". | But this was denied by Downing Street, which described it as "utter nonsense". |
| The prime minister's official spokesman said that, apart from anything else, there was no suggestion that a single global regulator would be created and the government had been pushing instead for closer cooperation between national regulators. | The prime minister's official spokesman said that, apart from anything else, there was no suggestion that a single global regulator would be created and the government had been pushing instead for closer cooperation between national regulators. |
| Several newspapers reported that Commons leader Ms Harman was "positioning" to take over when Mr Brown steps down. | Several newspapers reported that Commons leader Ms Harman was "positioning" to take over when Mr Brown steps down. |
| 'Exasperated' | 'Exasperated' |
| But Skills Secretary John Denham told the BBC the cabinet was more concerned with taking the "right decisions" to deal with the economy. | But Skills Secretary John Denham told the BBC the cabinet was more concerned with taking the "right decisions" to deal with the economy. |
| The Daily Telegraph reported Ms Harman had been accused by fellow ministers of trying to "muscle in" on the G20 summit of world leaders in London in April by staging an international women's conference at the same time. | The Daily Telegraph reported Ms Harman had been accused by fellow ministers of trying to "muscle in" on the G20 summit of world leaders in London in April by staging an international women's conference at the same time. |
| The newspaper said Ms Harman's cabinet colleagues had grown "exasperated" by her behaviour. | The newspaper said Ms Harman's cabinet colleagues had grown "exasperated" by her behaviour. |
| It comes after reports Ms Harman launched an outspoken attack on City bonuses at a cabinet meeting, which her critics have interpreted as an attempt to woo left-wingers ahead of a possible leadership bid when Mr Brown steps down. | It comes after reports Ms Harman launched an outspoken attack on City bonuses at a cabinet meeting, which her critics have interpreted as an attempt to woo left-wingers ahead of a possible leadership bid when Mr Brown steps down. |
| The Independent quoted a minister as saying Ms Harman, who saw off five rivals to win Labour's deputy leadership contest, "needs to be reined in". | The Independent quoted a minister as saying Ms Harman, who saw off five rivals to win Labour's deputy leadership contest, "needs to be reined in". |