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/8087814.stm
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Falconer urges leadership debate | Falconer urges leadership debate |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer has called for an urgent debate on Gordon Brown's leadership, as Labour braces for "terrible" election results. | Former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer has called for an urgent debate on Gordon Brown's leadership, as Labour braces for "terrible" election results. |
| The former cabinet minister told the BBC he was "not sure" Labour could unite while Mr Brown remained leader. | The former cabinet minister told the BBC he was "not sure" Labour could unite while Mr Brown remained leader. |
| But Alan Johnson, touted as a possible leader, said: "I don't agree that regicide gives you a unified party." | But Alan Johnson, touted as a possible leader, said: "I don't agree that regicide gives you a unified party." |
| Meanwhile, new Welsh Secretary Peter Hain has predicted Labour's European election results will be "terrible". | Meanwhile, new Welsh Secretary Peter Hain has predicted Labour's European election results will be "terrible". |
| Lord Falconer, who was a close ally of former PM Tony Blair, told BBC One's Politics Show the cabinet was "incredibly strong in terms of personnel" while he claimed the Conservatives "look vulnerable". | Lord Falconer, who was a close ally of former PM Tony Blair, told BBC One's Politics Show the cabinet was "incredibly strong in terms of personnel" while he claimed the Conservatives "look vulnerable". |
| The results are going to be terrible - there's no point beating about the bush on that - terrible for Labour Peter HainWelsh Secretary Stop taking shots at PM, MPs told Flint in fresh attack against PM | The results are going to be terrible - there's no point beating about the bush on that - terrible for Labour Peter HainWelsh Secretary Stop taking shots at PM, MPs told Flint in fresh attack against PM |
| "If we could bring ourselves together we would stand a real chance of making the changes the country needs," he said. | "If we could bring ourselves together we would stand a real chance of making the changes the country needs," he said. |
| "I think we are moving moderately quickly towards the need for a change and that change may be a change in leadership." | "I think we are moving moderately quickly towards the need for a change and that change may be a change in leadership." |
| "We need unity above all. Can we get unity under the current leadership? | "We need unity above all. Can we get unity under the current leadership? |
| "I am not sure that we can and we need to debate it urgently and I think probably it will need a change in leader." | "I am not sure that we can and we need to debate it urgently and I think probably it will need a change in leader." |
| Election results | Election results |
| He said he admired Gordon Brown "greatly" but said he had an "inability to hold the party together". | He said he admired Gordon Brown "greatly" but said he had an "inability to hold the party together". |
| He pointed to James Purnell's resignation as Work and Pensions Secretary and the intervention of previously loyal backbencher Barry Sheerman, who called for a secret ballot of MPs on the leadership. | He pointed to James Purnell's resignation as Work and Pensions Secretary and the intervention of previously loyal backbencher Barry Sheerman, who called for a secret ballot of MPs on the leadership. |
| I think Gordon Brown is the best man for the job. Alan Johnson Leaked Brown e-mail 'not hostile' | I think Gordon Brown is the best man for the job. Alan Johnson Leaked Brown e-mail 'not hostile' |
| Last week saw the departure of six cabinet ministers from the government and devastating local election results for the Labour Party, which saw it lose control of its four councils and its vote share drop to an historic low of 23%. | Last week saw the departure of six cabinet ministers from the government and devastating local election results for the Labour Party, which saw it lose control of its four councils and its vote share drop to an historic low of 23%. |
| Peter Hain, who returned to the cabinet as Welsh Secretary in Friday's reshuffle, also predicted bad European election results - due out Sunday evening. | Peter Hain, who returned to the cabinet as Welsh Secretary in Friday's reshuffle, also predicted bad European election results - due out Sunday evening. |
| He told Sky News' Sunday Live: "The results are going to be terrible - there's no point beating about the bush on that - terrible for Labour. | He told Sky News' Sunday Live: "The results are going to be terrible - there's no point beating about the bush on that - terrible for Labour. |
| "And I suspect terrible for all the mainstream parties, as indeed the council elections were." | "And I suspect terrible for all the mainstream parties, as indeed the council elections were." |
| BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said analysts would be looking at whether Labour slipped behind the UK Independence Party in the results. | BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said analysts would be looking at whether Labour slipped behind the UK Independence Party in the results. |
| 'Taking shots' | |
| The new Home Secretary Alan Johnson - the man widely touted as a possible replacement for Mr Brown - told the BBC he did not agree with Lord Falconer. | The new Home Secretary Alan Johnson - the man widely touted as a possible replacement for Mr Brown - told the BBC he did not agree with Lord Falconer. |
| He added: "I think Gordon Brown is the best man for the job. | He added: "I think Gordon Brown is the best man for the job. |
| "You're never going to get a politician that is absolutely perfect in every respect, Tony Blair wasn't, none of his predecessors have been." | "You're never going to get a politician that is absolutely perfect in every respect, Tony Blair wasn't, none of his predecessors have been." |
| He said Mr Brown was "a man of immense substance" who had "led the world" in dealing with economic problems. | He said Mr Brown was "a man of immense substance" who had "led the world" in dealing with economic problems. |
| "And I believe that he can do that job very very well and can lead us into election and can win that election." | "And I believe that he can do that job very very well and can lead us into election and can win that election." |
| Stop attacking PM, says Mandelson | |
| Earlier Business Secretary Lord Mandelson defended Mr Brown and said Labour could turn things around if it concentrated on policy and sorting out the expenses and economy. | Earlier Business Secretary Lord Mandelson defended Mr Brown and said Labour could turn things around if it concentrated on policy and sorting out the expenses and economy. |
| He told Mr Brown's Labour critics: "Stop taking shots at the prime minister because you are simply going to make the situation for the party and government even worse." | He told Mr Brown's Labour critics: "Stop taking shots at the prime minister because you are simply going to make the situation for the party and government even worse." |
| He added: "If we get the policy agenda right, and if it's sufficiently bold and decisive then the public will take a different look at us. | He added: "If we get the policy agenda right, and if it's sufficiently bold and decisive then the public will take a different look at us. |
| "At the moment they're being entirely distracted by noises off, by people who are not keeping their nerve." | "At the moment they're being entirely distracted by noises off, by people who are not keeping their nerve." |