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Brown urged to 'assert authority' Government still working - Harman
(about 2 hours later)
Senior figures in the Labour Party have urged Gordon Brown to assert his authority ahead of Thursday's European and English local elections. Harriet Harman has attempted to dismiss speculation about Gordon Brown's future as the government faced accusations it is in its "death throes".
The party's former deputy leader, Roy Hattersley, said the prime minister needed to "take control". Labour's deputy leader insisted the prime minister had a plan to lead the country and said that cabinet government was functioning normally.
He spoke as it emerged Jacqui Smith is to stand down as home secretary. She told Today: "I don't accept that he can't keep a grip on government."
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". It follows news that three ministers, including Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, are to stand down within days.
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. Opinion polls suggest Labour is heading for its biggest defeat in a national poll when voters cast their ballots in the European elections on Thursday.
News of the motion came on the day that four Labour MPs - including one minister - said they would not stand at the next election. 'Jumping ship'
Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday evening's Newsnight, Lord Hattersley said Gordon Brown needed to show strong leadership. And doubt was cast on Mr Brown's plan to reassert his authority with a post-poll cabinet reshuffle by the early announcement that Ms Smith was stepping down.
Opposition parties have stepped up their calls for an immediate general election, with Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg saying the government was "in its death throes" and there were now questions about "whether Britain is being governed at all".
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
And the normally-Labour supporting Guardian newspaper has published a lengthy editorial calling for Mr Brown to quit.
But on BBC Radio 4's Today, Ms Harman denied the government was in a "mess", insisting Tuesday's cabinet meeting had been "a purposeful day of doing the business of the government".
She said discussion had focused on issues such as backing up the car industry, tackling the spread of swine flu and cleaning up the system of MPs' expenses.
She added that she "profoundly" disagreed with the Guardian editorial accusing Mr Brown of having no vision and no plan and calling for the Labour Party to "cut him loose".
'Jumping ship'
She said: "There are big challenges that face the economy of the country, that is what Gordon Brown is focused on, and for the Guardian to say he has no plan is simply not true.
"I think he understands better than anybody what needs to be done to take the economy through these difficult times. So it is rubbish."
Four Labour MPs, including children's minister Beverley Hughes and ex health secretary Patricia Hewitt, announced they were standing down on Tuesday.
But Ms Harman denied they were "jumping ship".
"When they say they are going to change their lives now and spend more time with their families, that's not a code for jumping ship. That's because they mean it," she told Today.
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." She also dismissed speculation that Mr Brown could face a leadership challenge, saying: ''Well I don't think there will be a leadership challenge...nor should there be."
Former minister Peter Kilfoyle also urged Mr Brown to act decisively. She said Mr Brown would lead Labour into the next election but dismissed calls for him to go to the country now, saying he wanted time to steer the economy out of recession and sort out MPs' expenses.
"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. The Lib Dems and Conservatives have both indicated they will back a joint SNP/Plaid Cymru motion next week calling for an immediate election.
Labour's former deputy leader, Lord Hattersley said Gordon Brown needed to show strong leadership and "take control".
Charity workCharity 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. 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 programmeFROM 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. But 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".
'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 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.
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
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."
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."
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 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.