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Brown best man for PM - Johnson Brown best man for PM - Johnson
(20 minutes later)
Health Secretary Alan Johnson has defended Gordon Brown's leadership, saying he is "better than me or anyone else" as prime minister.Health Secretary Alan Johnson has defended Gordon Brown's leadership, saying he is "better than me or anyone else" as prime minister.
He called Mr Brown a "man for these times", despite several leading Labour figures criticising his performance.He called Mr Brown a "man for these times", despite several leading Labour figures criticising his performance.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears earlier wrote that ministers had been "lamentable" at communicating.Communities Secretary Hazel Blears earlier wrote that ministers had been "lamentable" at communicating.
Ex-London Mayor Ken Livingstone said Mr Johnson could "probably do better" at the next election than Mr Brown.Ex-London Mayor Ken Livingstone said Mr Johnson could "probably do better" at the next election than Mr Brown.
The Mail on Sunday reported that some Labour plotters were pushing for Mr Johnson to replace the prime minister.The Mail on Sunday reported that some Labour plotters were pushing for Mr Johnson to replace the prime minister.
'Not meltdown''Not meltdown'
It follows a week in which Mr Brown suffered his first serious House of Commons setback since entering 10 Downing Street, losing a vote on the rights of Gurkhas to settle in the UK. This follows a week in which Mr Brown suffered his first serious House of Commons setback since entering 10 Downing Street, losing a vote on the rights of Gurkhas to settle in the UK.
It also comes amid criticism of the prime minister's handling of the reform of MPs' expenses - announced on Downing Street's YouTube site - and opinion polls showing Labour trailing the Tories. It also comes amid criticism of the prime minister's handling of the reform of MPs' expenses - announced on Downing Street's YouTube site - and opinion polls showing Labour trailing the Conservatives.
I've no aspiration for the leadership. Alan Johnson, health secretaryI've no aspiration for the leadership. Alan Johnson, health secretary
On BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Johnson said he was not sure whether presentation was Mr Brown's "strength" but added that the focus at the next election would be on "issues", such as the economy.On BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Johnson said he was not sure whether presentation was Mr Brown's "strength" but added that the focus at the next election would be on "issues", such as the economy.
Asked about the situation the government was in, he added: "It doesn't feel like meltdown to me."Asked about the situation the government was in, he added: "It doesn't feel like meltdown to me."
On the government's decision to push for replacing MPs' second homes allowances with flat-rate daily expenses for attending Parliament - which eventually had to be dropped because of intense opposition - Mr Johnson said: "We knew that was a risk.On the government's decision to push for replacing MPs' second homes allowances with flat-rate daily expenses for attending Parliament - which eventually had to be dropped because of intense opposition - Mr Johnson said: "We knew that was a risk.
"The cabinet talked about this... I believe the cabinet is responsible for it. It can't just be Gordon Brown.""The cabinet talked about this... I believe the cabinet is responsible for it. It can't just be Gordon Brown."
He added: "I've no aspiration for the leadership. My aspiration was for the deputy leadership and I didn't even get that. 'Second-order issues'
"I want to be part of a good government and to be led by Gordon Brown... I think he's a man for these times. Discussing whether he would launch a bid for the leadership, Mr Johnson said: "I am not saying there's no circumstances."
"I think he can do it better than me or anyone else." But he added: "I have no aspiration for the leader. My aspiration was for the deputy leadership and I couldn't even get that.
On the same programme, Mr Livingstone said: "I actually think Alan Johnson will probably do better at the next election than Gordon Brown... particularly in terms of recapturing our working-class support." "I am not driven by this ambition. I want to be part of a good government and I want it to be led by Gordon Brown.
"I actually admire Gordon Brown tremendously. I think he is a man for these times. It might not be the photo opportunity and he might not look good on YouTube. Actually those are second-order issues.
"He can do it [the job of prime minister] and he can do it a lot better than me or anyone else."
However, on the same programme, Labour's Mr Livingstone said: "I actually think Alan Johnson will probably do better at the next election than Gordon Brown... particularly in terms of recapturing our working-class support."
'Speaks their language''Speaks their language'
He added that among leading Labour figures only he, Mr Johnson, and former deputy prime minister John Prescott, had not gone to university.He added that among leading Labour figures only he, Mr Johnson, and former deputy prime minister John Prescott, had not gone to university.
On working-class voters, Mr Livingstone said: "Alan speaks their language. If you want to undermine the BNP, Johnson could do that."On working-class voters, Mr Livingstone said: "Alan speaks their language. If you want to undermine the BNP, Johnson could do that."
In an article for The Observer, Ms Blears said the public did not believe many government policy announcements. In her article for The Observer, Ms Blears said the public did not believe many government policy announcements.
She suggested leaving "slick presentation and clever soundbites" to the Conservatives.She suggested leaving "slick presentation and clever soundbites" to the Conservatives.
She wrote: "Promote your message via YouTube if you want to. But it is no substitute for knocking on doors or setting up a stall in the town centre.She wrote: "Promote your message via YouTube if you want to. But it is no substitute for knocking on doors or setting up a stall in the town centre.
"We need to have a relationship with the voters based on shared instincts and emotions. "We need to have a relationship with the voters based on shared instincts and emotions."
"We need to start showing we understand the instincts, fears, hopes and emotions of the broad mass of British people." Ms Blears, a strong supporter of Mr Brown's predecessor Tony Blair, said the government's handling of the Gurkhas issue had put it "on the wrong side of the British sense of fair play, and no party can stay there for long without dire consequences".
Ms Blears, a strong supporter of Mr Brown's predecessor Tony Blair, also commented on the government's handling of the issue surrounding the Gurkhas, saying it put itself "on the wrong side of the British sense of fair play, and no party can stay there for long without dire consequences". She said Mr Brown would lead the party into the next election, but that the government must appear more "human" to defeat the Tories.
'Distraught'
"Labour ministers have a collective responsibility for the government's lamentable failure to get our message across," she said.
But in a statement later, she said: "Any suggestion that I intended what I wrote as criticism of him [Mr Brown] or his leadership is completely wrong.But in a statement later, she said: "Any suggestion that I intended what I wrote as criticism of him [Mr Brown] or his leadership is completely wrong.
"I fully support the collective decisions we take as a government. "I fully support the collective decisions we take as a government."
"My article simply calls for the Labour Party to hit the streets campaigning against the Tories in the forthcoming local and European elections."
Commons defeat
The government suffered a shock defeat in the Commons on Wednesday over its policy of restricting the right of many former Gurkhas to settle in the UK.
MPs voted by 267 to 246 for a Lib Dem motion offering all Gurkhas equal right of residence, with the Tories and 27 Labour rebels backing it.
Ms Blears said that Mr Brown would lead the party into the next election, but she also says that the government must appear more "human" if it is to defeat the Tories.
"Labour ministers have a collective responsibility for the government's lamentable failure to get our message across," she says.
"Whatever the problems of the recession, the answer is not more government documents or big speeches."
Asked about media reaction to Ms Blears' comments, Mr Johnson said: "Hazel would be absolutely distraught to see that her article is being used in this way."Asked about media reaction to Ms Blears' comments, Mr Johnson said: "Hazel would be absolutely distraught to see that her article is being used in this way."
He insisted Mr Brown and the communities secretary could still work well together.He insisted Mr Brown and the communities secretary could still work well together.
Former deputy prime minister John Prescott earlier rebuked Labour politicians who criticised the prime minister, including former Home Secretary Charles Clarke. Former deputy prime minister John Prescott earlier urged Labour politicians who had criticised the prime minister, including former Home Secretary Charles Clarke, to stop complaining and get behind the party.
He said members should stop complaining and get behind the party.