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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Harman: 'I don't want to be PM' | Harman: 'I don't want to be PM' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman has denied a report she would fight for the party leadership, as speculation grows over Gordon Brown's position. | Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman has denied a report she would fight for the party leadership, as speculation grows over Gordon Brown's position. |
| She insisted the story was "simply not true" and under "no circumstances" would she be a candidate. | She insisted the story was "simply not true" and under "no circumstances" would she be a candidate. |
| She told the BBC's Today programme: "I don't want to be prime minister and I don't want to be leader of the party." | She told the BBC's Today programme: "I don't want to be prime minister and I don't want to be leader of the party." |
| The Daily Telegraph said Ms Harman told friends she would stand if backbenchers tried to force the PM from office. | The Daily Telegraph said Ms Harman told friends she would stand if backbenchers tried to force the PM from office. |
| Ms Harman said she intended to keep the promise she made to Labour members at the time of her election as deputy leader - that she would stand behind Mr Brown. | Ms Harman said she intended to keep the promise she made to Labour members at the time of her election as deputy leader - that she would stand behind Mr Brown. |
| She added: "My ambition is to remain his loyal and supportive deputy." | She added: "My ambition is to remain his loyal and supportive deputy." |
| Ms Harman made her point on the BBC by defacing a newspaper report | Ms Harman made her point on the BBC by defacing a newspaper report |
| But she refused to comment on criticism of the government by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears. | But she refused to comment on criticism of the government by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears. |
| On Sunday, Ms Blears condemned what she called the government's "lamentable" failure to communicate. | On Sunday, Ms Blears condemned what she called the government's "lamentable" failure to communicate. |
| She wrote: "YouTube if you want to. But it's no substitute for knocking on doors or setting up a stall in the town centre." | She wrote: "YouTube if you want to. But it's no substitute for knocking on doors or setting up a stall in the town centre." |
| But in a statement issued 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." | But in a statement issued 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." |
| Gurkha rights | Gurkha rights |
| Earlier, Ms Harman's spokeswoman said the Telegraph story - which suggested Ms Harman would refuse to stand aside for a "unity candidate" should Mr Brown move on - was "utter rubbish". | Earlier, Ms Harman's spokeswoman said the Telegraph story - which suggested Ms Harman would refuse to stand aside for a "unity candidate" should Mr Brown move on - was "utter rubbish". |
| Any plotting in this period would be a treachery too far href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8032726.stm">Elections may ease Labour's woes | |
| It follows a week in which Mr Brown suffered his first serious Commons setback since 2007, losing a vote on the rights of Gurkhas to settle in the UK. | It follows a week in which Mr Brown suffered his first serious Commons setback since 2007, losing a vote on the rights of Gurkhas to settle in the UK. |
| He also faced 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. | He also faced 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. |
| Former Home Secretary Charles Clarke has said recent events made him "ashamed" to be a Labour MP. | Former Home Secretary Charles Clarke has said recent events made him "ashamed" to be a Labour MP. |
| BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said speculation about the leadership was likely to continue as Labour MPs braced themselves for June's local and European elections. | BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said speculation about the leadership was likely to continue as Labour MPs braced themselves for June's local and European elections. |
| Issues | Issues |
| Health Secretary Alan Johnson and Justice Secretary Jack Straw have since defended the prime minister's leadership. | Health Secretary Alan Johnson and Justice Secretary Jack Straw have since defended the prime minister's leadership. |
| Environment Secretary Hilary Benn told GMTV that there would "absolutely not" be a leadership challenge, adding that Mr Brown was "a serious politician for serious times" who would lead the party at the next general election. | Environment Secretary Hilary Benn told GMTV that there would "absolutely not" be a leadership challenge, adding that Mr Brown was "a serious politician for serious times" who would lead the party at the next general election. |
| In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, Lord Kinnock warned in-fighting risked handing seats to the BNP in June's European elections. | In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, Lord Kinnock warned in-fighting risked handing seats to the BNP in June's European elections. |
| He said discussions of a possible leadership challenge to oust Mr Brown before a general election was "ludicrous and damaging". | He said discussions of a possible leadership challenge to oust Mr Brown before a general election was "ludicrous and damaging". |
| "In order to maintain Labour advances... we have all got to get behind Gordon," he said. | "In order to maintain Labour advances... we have all got to get behind Gordon," he said. |
| Mr Brown will seek to take regain control of events on Tuesday when he is expected to deliver a major speech on education. | Mr Brown will seek to take regain control of events on Tuesday when he is expected to deliver a major speech on education. |