This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8080777.stm

The article has changed 32 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 19 Version 20
Brown attacked after Blears quits Brown pressure after Blears quits
(10 minutes later)
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has quit the cabinet, increasing pressure on UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has quit the cabinet, increasing pressure on UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Her departure is the second top-level resignation on the eve of the European and English local elections.Her departure is the second top-level resignation on the eve of the European and English local elections.
It led to stormy Commons scenes as Mr Brown denied his government was in "meltdown" and rejected calls for an immediate general election.It led to stormy Commons scenes as Mr Brown denied his government was in "meltdown" and rejected calls for an immediate general election.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson has been forced to deny he is ready take over amid reports of a backbench plot.Health Secretary Alan Johnson has been forced to deny he is ready take over amid reports of a backbench plot.
Mr Johnson told the BBC: "He (Mr Brown) is doing the job and there is no one who could do it better."Mr Johnson told the BBC: "He (Mr Brown) is doing the job and there is no one who could do it better."
He said Mr Brown's performance at prime ministers' questions had shown he had the "courage and tenacity" to lead the country "under difficult circumstances".He said Mr Brown's performance at prime ministers' questions had shown he had the "courage and tenacity" to lead the country "under difficult circumstances".
Plots deniedPlots denied
Some Labour MPs have been seeking support for a letter calling for Mr Brown to step down and be replaced by Mr Johnson.Some Labour MPs have been seeking support for a letter calling for Mr Brown to step down and be replaced by Mr Johnson.
The Guardian reports the MPs believe they could gain up to 80 signatures which they could then present to the prime minister.The Guardian reports the MPs believe they could gain up to 80 signatures which they could then present to the prime minister.
At the time when people need help, need action, the country doesn't have a government, it has a void Nick CleggLib Dem leader Full story: PM's questionsAt the time when people need help, need action, the country doesn't have a government, it has a void Nick CleggLib Dem leader Full story: PM's questions
Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon told the BBC's Daily Politics he thought such a move was "highly unlikely".Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon told the BBC's Daily Politics he thought such a move was "highly unlikely".
Seventy Labour MPs would have to nominate a challenger to Gordon Brown to force a leadership contest.Seventy Labour MPs would have to nominate a challenger to Gordon Brown to force a leadership contest.
Attempts to gain enough support for to stand against Mr Brown for the Labour leadership have failed twice before - when he succeeded Tony Blair in 2007 and last summer.Attempts to gain enough support for to stand against Mr Brown for the Labour leadership have failed twice before - when he succeeded Tony Blair in 2007 and last summer.
Lord Mandelson poured cold water on the idea of a challenge and turned on Tory leader David Cameron, saying he "doesn't have sufficient substance to lay a glove on this prime minister".Lord Mandelson poured cold water on the idea of a challenge and turned on Tory leader David Cameron, saying he "doesn't have sufficient substance to lay a glove on this prime minister".
Speaking at prime ministers' questions, Mr Brown said recent weeks had put "enormous pressure" on MPs of all parties and their families because of the string of revelations about their expenses.Speaking at prime ministers' questions, Mr Brown said recent weeks had put "enormous pressure" on MPs of all parties and their families because of the string of revelations about their expenses.
'Collapsing''Collapsing'
He accused Tory leader David Cameron of seeking party political advantage from the situation.He accused Tory leader David Cameron of seeking party political advantage from the situation.
But Mr Cameron said the prime minister was "in denial" and the communities secretary resigning on the eve of local government elections was a "direct challenge to his authority".But Mr Cameron said the prime minister was "in denial" and the communities secretary resigning on the eve of local government elections was a "direct challenge to his authority".
He said Mr Brown's team was now "deserting him", the government was "collapsing" and he urged the prime minister to "get down to the Palace, ask for a dissolution, call an election".He said Mr Brown's team was now "deserting him", the government was "collapsing" and he urged the prime minister to "get down to the Palace, ask for a dissolution, call an election".
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said: "It's a tragedy that exactly at the time when people need help, need action, the country doesn't have a government, it has a void. Labour is finished."Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said: "It's a tragedy that exactly at the time when people need help, need action, the country doesn't have a government, it has a void. Labour is finished."
I am returning to the grassroots (where I began), to political activism, to the cut and thrust of political debate Hazel Blears Communities Secretary Profile: Hazel BlearsI am returning to the grassroots (where I began), to political activism, to the cut and thrust of political debate Hazel Blears Communities Secretary Profile: Hazel Blears
Ms Blears has been under fire over her expenses claims despite repaying £13,000, following allegations she avoided paying capital gains tax on a property sale. She was tipped for the axe in the forthcoming reshuffle.Ms Blears has been under fire over her expenses claims despite repaying £13,000, following allegations she avoided paying capital gains tax on a property sale. She was tipped for the axe in the forthcoming reshuffle.
The Salford MP denied doing anything wrong but Mr Brown described her claims as "totally unacceptable".The Salford MP denied doing anything wrong but Mr Brown described her claims as "totally unacceptable".
She is understood to have accused Mr Brown of unfairly singling her out for criticism over the expenses issue, when they had a meeting in Downing Street on Tuesday.She is understood to have accused Mr Brown of unfairly singling her out for criticism over the expenses issue, when they had a meeting in Downing Street on Tuesday.
Allies of the prime minister have suggested she feared further revelations about her expenses but sources close to Ms Blears accused them of "a smear campaign".Allies of the prime minister have suggested she feared further revelations about her expenses but sources close to Ms Blears accused them of "a smear campaign".
Lord Mandelson said she was planning to stand down after the elections but had decided to go early due to media pressure, adding that she would never do anything to damage the party.Lord Mandelson said she was planning to stand down after the elections but had decided to go early due to media pressure, adding that she would never do anything to damage the party.
'Deliberate''Deliberate'
The BBC's Political Editor Nick Robinson said her resignation appeared deliberately timed to destabilise the prime minister ahead of vital local and European elections on Thursday and that he was now "fighting for his political future".The BBC's Political Editor Nick Robinson said her resignation appeared deliberately timed to destabilise the prime minister ahead of vital local and European elections on Thursday and that he was now "fighting for his political future".
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, who also faced expenses criticism and went public on Tuesday with her decision to stand down, said she backed Mr Brown and denied Ms Blears was deliberately trying to undermine him.Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, who also faced expenses criticism and went public on Tuesday with her decision to stand down, said she backed Mr Brown and denied Ms Blears was deliberately trying to undermine him.
There is no sign that Hazel Blears' resignation is part of an organised plot Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read the blog in fullThere is no sign that Hazel Blears' resignation is part of an organised plot Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read the blog in full
In her resignation statement, Ms Blears said: "I've never sought high office for the sake of it, or for what I can gain, but for what I can achieve for the people I represent and serve."In her resignation statement, Ms Blears said: "I've never sought high office for the sake of it, or for what I can gain, but for what I can achieve for the people I represent and serve."
Downing Street said Mr Brown "respects and understands" Ms Blears' decision to quit the cabinet and believes she had made "an outstanding contribution to public life".Downing Street said Mr Brown "respects and understands" Ms Blears' decision to quit the cabinet and believes she had made "an outstanding contribution to public life".
The Salford MP is a former Labour Party chairman and was one of the most prominent Blairites in Gordon Brown's cabinet but she came last in the poll to be Labour deputy leader two years ago.The Salford MP is a former Labour Party chairman and was one of the most prominent Blairites in Gordon Brown's cabinet but she came last in the poll to be Labour deputy leader two years ago.
You Tube angerYou Tube anger
Last month she launched what was seen as thinly-veiled attack on Mr Brown in a newspaper article, criticising the government's "lamentable" failure to get its message across.Last month she launched what was seen as thinly-veiled attack on Mr Brown in a newspaper article, criticising the government's "lamentable" failure to get its message across.
In an apparent jibe at the PM's much-mocked appearance on You Tube, she said: "You Tube if you want to. But it's no substitute for knocking on doors or setting up a stall in the town centre."In an apparent jibe at the PM's much-mocked appearance on You Tube, she said: "You Tube if you want to. But it's no substitute for knocking on doors or setting up a stall in the town centre."
Advertisement
Labour MP: 'You Tube clip harmed PM'Labour MP: 'You Tube clip harmed PM'
Senior Labour MP Barry Sheerman told the BBC Mr Brown's decision to announce plans to reform MPs expenses on You Tube - the day after he had been to a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party without mentioning his ideas - had provoked anger among Labour backbenchers.Senior Labour MP Barry Sheerman told the BBC Mr Brown's decision to announce plans to reform MPs expenses on You Tube - the day after he had been to a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party without mentioning his ideas - had provoked anger among Labour backbenchers.
"There was a deep feeling of resentment that we had been snubbed and I think the present problems stem all from that evening," Mr Sheerman said, who is chairman of the Commons education committee."There was a deep feeling of resentment that we had been snubbed and I think the present problems stem all from that evening," Mr Sheerman said, who is chairman of the Commons education committee.
He said Mr Brown was "heading for trouble" if he did not wake up to the concerns of his MPs "right across the political spectrum" and urged the prime minister "to do something fast or it will become unstoppable".He said Mr Brown was "heading for trouble" if he did not wake up to the concerns of his MPs "right across the political spectrum" and urged the prime minister "to do something fast or it will become unstoppable".