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Brown focused on 'task in hand' Brown focused on 'task in hand'
(20 minutes later)
Gordon Brown says he will not be "diverted" from the job of "building the Britain of the future" despite speculation over his leadership. Gordon Brown says he will not be "diverted" from efforts to clean up politics and tackle the recession by continued leadership speculation.
Mr Brown said there were "ups and downs" in politics but he was focused on cleaning up Parliament and bringing the country out of the recession. Mr Brown said there were "ups and downs" in politics but he was focused on "the task in hand", including reform of Parliament and public services.
Senior Labour MPs have urged Labour colleagues to rally round Mr Brown after a week of turmoil for the party.Senior Labour MPs have urged Labour colleagues to rally round Mr Brown after a week of turmoil for the party.
But the party is nervously awaiting Sunday's European election results.But the party is nervously awaiting Sunday's European election results.
'Ups and downs''Ups and downs'
If Labour fares badly in these polls, after damaging defeats in English council elections on Friday, backbench MPs could yet try to move against the prime minister.If Labour fares badly in these polls, after damaging defeats in English council elections on Friday, backbench MPs could yet try to move against the prime minister.
Mr Brown sought to reassert his authority with a cabinet reshuffle on Friday after the resignation of a handful of senior ministers fuelled talk about his position.Mr Brown sought to reassert his authority with a cabinet reshuffle on Friday after the resignation of a handful of senior ministers fuelled talk about his position.
Speaking in France, where he is attending events to mark the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Mr Brown said he was focused on tackling the recession and rebuilding trust in politics after the expenses scandal. We keep on with the task in hand and we are not diverted from it Gordon Brown
Asked about the turmoil of the past few days, he said. Speaking in France, where he is attending events to mark the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Mr Brown said he was focused on dealing with the economic downturn and rebuilding trust in politics after the expenses scandal.
"You are bound to have ups and downs in politics. Asked about the turmoil of the past few days, he said: "You are bound to have ups and downs in politics.
"But you have to stick with policies and make sure they come through. We keep on with the task in hand and we are not diverted from it.""But you have to stick with policies and make sure they come through. We keep on with the task in hand and we are not diverted from it."
As well as addressing what he described as the "political crisis" surrounding Westminster, Mr Brown said he was committed to "building the Britain of the future".
"I believe that the policies that we will set forward over the next few weeks - when we will talk about jobs, the health service, education, policing and crime - these are the policies that will take us through not just this downturn but build a better future," he said.
"Now that's the job I have got to do."
Labour ministers have urged fellow MPs still questioning Mr Brown's future to "get the message" from party supporters and unite behind Mr Brown.