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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Brown urged to 'assert authority' | Brown urged to 'assert authority' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Senior figures in the Labour Party have urged Gordon Brown to assert his authority ahead of Thursday's European and English local elections. | Senior figures in the Labour Party have urged Gordon Brown to assert his authority ahead of Thursday's European and English local elections. |
| The party's former deputy leader, Roy Hattersley, said the prime minister needed to "take control". | The party's former deputy leader, Roy Hattersley, said the prime minister needed to "take control". |
| He spoke as it emerged Jacqui Smith is to stand down as home secretary. | |
| Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said there were now questions about "whether Britain is being governed at all" and things "need to be brought to a head". | |
| Opposition parties have been calling for a general election - with the Lib Dems and Conservatives both indicating they would back a joint SNP/Plaid Cymru motion next week calling for an immediate election. | |
| News of the motion came on the day that four Labour MPs - including one minister - said they would not stand at the next election. | |
| Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday evening's Newsnight, Lord Hattersley said Gordon Brown needed to show strong leadership. | |
| Lord Hattersley said Gordon Brown needed to take the party "by the scruff of the neck" | Lord Hattersley said Gordon Brown needed to take the party "by the scruff of the neck" |
| He said: "What he's got to do is really take control, not just appear to take control, not just hope for headlines, but he has to have a reshuffle which shows it's his government, the people he wants are doing the jobs he wants them to do, no compromises, no balance, Gordon Brown the boss." | |
| Former minister Peter Kilfoyle also urged Mr Brown to act decisively. | Former minister Peter Kilfoyle also urged Mr Brown to act decisively. |
| "I think it's rather inflated, the idea that there's chaos, but I think there's now a very real responsibility on the prime minister to show some outward signs of his authority, and he's got to exercise that authority without fear of favour", he said. | "I think it's rather inflated, the idea that there's chaos, but I think there's now a very real responsibility on the prime minister to show some outward signs of his authority, and he's got to exercise that authority without fear of favour", he said. |
| Charity work | Charity work |
| Jacqui Smith became the first cabinet casualty of the expenses scandal when sources close to her said she would step down in a planned reshuffle for the sake of her family. | Jacqui Smith became the first cabinet casualty of the expenses scandal when sources close to her said she would step down in a planned reshuffle for the sake of her family. |
| Ms Smith, who wants to remain an MP, was criticised for listing her sister's London house as her main home - and her husband's claim for an adult movie. | Ms Smith, who wants to remain an MP, was criticised for listing her sister's London house as her main home - and her husband's claim for an adult movie. |
| Children's Minister Beverley Hughes also announced on Tuesday that she wanted to leave in the shake-up - for family reasons - while Cabinet Office Minister Tom Watson is also expected to step down. | Children's Minister Beverley Hughes also announced on Tuesday that she wanted to leave in the shake-up - for family reasons - while Cabinet Office Minister Tom Watson is also expected to step down. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| Ex-cabinet minister Patricia Hewitt said she would not seek re-election so she could concentrate on her charity work in India. | Ex-cabinet minister Patricia Hewitt said she would not seek re-election so she could concentrate on her charity work in India. |
| Universities Secretary John Denham denied the departures meant Gordon Brown was facing a crisis. | Universities Secretary John Denham denied the departures meant Gordon Brown was facing a crisis. |
| He said: "I've seen a number of reshuffles, many over the years I've been in Parliament. I think in almost every one there has been one or more ministers have indicated in advance that they didn't want to be considered." | He said: "I've seen a number of reshuffles, many over the years I've been in Parliament. I think in almost every one there has been one or more ministers have indicated in advance that they didn't want to be considered." |
| But an editorial in the left-of-centre Guardian newspaper has criticised Mr Brown and called for the Labour Party to "cut him loose". | But an editorial in the left-of-centre Guardian newspaper has criticised Mr Brown and called for the Labour Party to "cut him loose". |
| 'Not good rules' | 'Not good rules' |
| The Daily Telegraph says Mr Ainsworth, the MP for Coventry North East, claimed almost £6,000 for redecoration and other work on his second home. | The Daily Telegraph says Mr Ainsworth, the MP for Coventry North East, claimed almost £6,000 for redecoration and other work on his second home. |
| The newspaper says he also tried to claim £2,225 for a corner sofa unit and £1,000 for a LCD television, but both amounts were reduced by the House of Commons fees office. | The newspaper says he also tried to claim £2,225 for a corner sofa unit and £1,000 for a LCD television, but both amounts were reduced by the House of Commons fees office. |
| Mr Ainsworth told the Telegraph that he had only claimed for necessary repair work and had accepted a cap on the claims for the television and sofa. | Mr Ainsworth told the Telegraph that he had only claimed for necessary repair work and had accepted a cap on the claims for the television and sofa. |
| He said he "acted within the spirit and the letter of the rules" but added that "the rules were not good rules. We now must act to change this". | He said he "acted within the spirit and the letter of the rules" but added that "the rules were not good rules. We now must act to change this". |
| MPS LEAVING PARLIAMENT The following MPs have said in the past three weeks that they will not contest the next electionConservative: Andrew MacKay, Julie Kirkbride, Douglas Hogg, Sir Peter Viggers, Anthony Steen, Sir Nicholas and Ann Winterton, Christopher FraserLabour: Margaret Moran, Ben Chapman, David Chaytor, Ian McCartney, John Smith, Patricia Hewitt, Beverley Hughes, Michael Martin (Speaker) Hewitt to stand down as MP | MPS LEAVING PARLIAMENT The following MPs have said in the past three weeks that they will not contest the next electionConservative: Andrew MacKay, Julie Kirkbride, Douglas Hogg, Sir Peter Viggers, Anthony Steen, Sir Nicholas and Ann Winterton, Christopher FraserLabour: Margaret Moran, Ben Chapman, David Chaytor, Ian McCartney, John Smith, Patricia Hewitt, Beverley Hughes, Michael Martin (Speaker) Hewitt to stand down as MP |
| On Tuesday, four Labour MPs were barred from standing at the next election after the party's National Executive Committee "star chamber" examined their expenses claims. | On Tuesday, four Labour MPs were barred from standing at the next election after the party's National Executive Committee "star chamber" examined their expenses claims. |
| But the local party of one of those MPs, backbencher Ian Gibson, accused the Labour leadership of operating a "kangaroo court." | But the local party of one of those MPs, backbencher Ian Gibson, accused the Labour leadership of operating a "kangaroo court." |
| Martin Booth said the 'star chamber' had ignored local support for the Norwich North MP, who sold his taxpayer-subsidised flat to his daughter at a cut price. | Martin Booth said the 'star chamber' had ignored local support for the Norwich North MP, who sold his taxpayer-subsidised flat to his daughter at a cut price. |
| He said: "It was not a star chamber, it was a kangaroo court. They had decided before he even went." | He said: "It was not a star chamber, it was a kangaroo court. They had decided before he even went." |
| Mr Gibson was the only one of the four MPs formally barred not to have already announced he would quit. | Mr Gibson was the only one of the four MPs formally barred not to have already announced he would quit. |
| The others who were formally stripped of their nominations were David Chaytor (Bury North) and Elliot Morley (Scunthorpe), who both claimed thousands of pounds for interest on non-existent mortgages and Margaret Moran, who claimed £22,500 for treating dry rot at a home 100 miles from her Luton South constituency. | The others who were formally stripped of their nominations were David Chaytor (Bury North) and Elliot Morley (Scunthorpe), who both claimed thousands of pounds for interest on non-existent mortgages and Margaret Moran, who claimed £22,500 for treating dry rot at a home 100 miles from her Luton South constituency. |
| The prime minister has said that he will start chairing a new National Democratic Renewal Council, made up of ministers, from next week. | The prime minister has said that he will start chairing a new National Democratic Renewal Council, made up of ministers, from next week. |
| Mr Brown confirmed to the BBC he is planning a reshuffle but refused to be drawn on individual ministers' roles, amid speculation that Chancellor Alistair Darling, whose expenses have also been questioned, may also be moved. | Mr Brown confirmed to the BBC he is planning a reshuffle but refused to be drawn on individual ministers' roles, amid speculation that Chancellor Alistair Darling, whose expenses have also been questioned, may also be moved. |