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Brown best man for PM - Johnson Brown best man for PM - Johnson
(about 1 hour 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.
Several newspapers have questioned Mr Brown's future, with the Mail on Sunday reporting that some Labour plotters were pushing for Mr Johnson to replace the prime minister and the Observer saying the "first cracks" in his cabinet were beginning to appear. Several newspapers have questioned Mr Brown's future. The Mail on Sunday reported that some Labour plotters were pushing for Mr Johnson to replace the prime minister, and the Observer said the "first cracks" in his cabinet were beginning to appear.
'Not meltdown''Not meltdown'
This follows a week in which Mr Brown suffered his first serious House of Commons setback since becoming prime minister in 2007, 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 2007, losing a vote on the rights of Gurkhas to settle in the UK.
It also comes amid criticism of his handling of the reform of MPs' expenses - announced on Downing Street's YouTube site - and opinion polls showing Labour trailing the Conservatives.It also comes amid criticism of his 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 attendance - which was later 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."
'Second-order issues''Second-order issues'
Discussing whether he would launch a bid for the leadership, Mr Johnson said: "I am not saying there's no circumstances."Discussing whether he would launch a bid for the leadership, Mr Johnson said: "I am not saying there's no circumstances."
But he added: "I have no aspiration for the leader. My aspiration was for the deputy leadership and I couldn't even get that.But he added: "I have no aspiration for the leader. My aspiration was for the deputy leadership and I couldn't even get that.
"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 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. "I actually admire Gordon Brown tremendously. I think he is a man for these times."
He said photo opportunities and "looking good on YouTube" were "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.""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. However, on the same programme, Labour's Mr Livingstone said: "I think Alan Johnson will probably do better at the next election than Gordon Brown... particularly in terms of recapturing our working-class support."
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 her 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 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."
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, 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".
She said Mr Brown would lead the party into the next election, but that the government must appear more "human" to defeat the Tories.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' Hazel Blears said it was wrong to say she was criticising Mr Brown
"Labour ministers have a collective responsibility for the government's lamentable failure to get our message across," she said."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. 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."
"I fully support the collective decisions we take as a government."
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.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw told Sky News: "Hazel issued a statement last night clarifying her remarks.Justice Secretary Jack Straw told Sky News: "Hazel issued a statement last night clarifying her remarks.
"She's made it absolutely clear, and indeed the opening passage of her article in The Observer makes clear, her active support for Gordon Brown. And she's been a very effective minister, and that's the job that all of us have who sit round the cabinet table." "She's made it absolutely clear, and indeed the opening passage of her article in The Observer makes clear, her active support for Gordon Brown."
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. Housing Minister Margaret Beckett told BBC One's Politics Show Ms Blears was "certainly right that the [Labour] campaign is not as effective as it should be".
She said: "It's all of us that have to be responsible for communicating where we are."
Former deputy prime minister John Prescott earlier urged Labour politicians who had criticised the prime minister - including former Home Secretary Charles Clarke who said recent events made him "ashamed" to be a Labour MP - to stop complaining and get behind the party.
Mrs Beckett agreed, saying she had been "horrified by what Charles said" and adding: "I'm very proud to be a Labour MP."