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 5 Version 6
Falconer urges leadership debate Falconer urges leadership debate
(9 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 PMThe 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 resultsElection 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' We have a weakened prime minister and a weakened Cabinet and the country is crying out there for the general election William Hague Leaked Brown e-mail 'not hostile'
Meanwhile, Cabinet Office Minister Tessa Jowell said that Mr Brown would be prepared to step aside if he became convinced that "he personally was an obstacle to Labour's recovery and achievement".Meanwhile, Cabinet Office Minister Tessa Jowell said that Mr Brown would be prepared to step aside if he became convinced that "he personally was an obstacle to Labour's recovery and achievement".
"Gordon Brown loves the Labour party. He is Labour through and through," she told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend."Gordon Brown loves the Labour party. He is Labour through and through," she told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend.
She said the cabinet had to take some responsibility "for the fact that the government is in a very difficult place at the moment" and said voters hated parties which were "more obsessed by themselves than they are with them".She said the cabinet had to take some responsibility "for the fact that the government is in a very difficult place at the moment" and said voters hated parties which were "more obsessed by themselves than they are with them".
"That team has got to rally round Gordon and build the strength that the evidence of a team and a government working together can do.""That team has got to rally round Gordon and build the strength that the evidence of a team and a government working together can do."
But Conservative frontbencher William Hague called for an immediate general election.
He told the BBC: "We have a weakened prime minister and a weakened cabinet and the country is crying out there for the general election so that they can choose the prime minister and the cabinet."
UKIP ranking
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.
Stop attacking PM, says Mandelson
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."