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Brown facing his Labour critics Brown facing his Labour critics
(10 minutes later)
Gordon Brown is facing his Labour critics after another minister quit with a blast at his leadership.Gordon Brown is facing his Labour critics after another minister quit with a blast at his leadership.
Environment minister Jane Kennedy said she could not support him as leader.Environment minister Jane Kennedy said she could not support him as leader.
It came as Labour digested a dire set of European election results which saw them gain just 15% of votes and finish behind the UK Independence Party.It came as Labour digested a dire set of European election results which saw them gain just 15% of votes and finish behind the UK Independence Party.
Mr Brown was clapped as he arrived to address Labour MPs in a mass meeting at Parliament, but two of his critics repeated calls for him to resign.Mr Brown was clapped as he arrived to address Labour MPs in a mass meeting at Parliament, but two of his critics repeated calls for him to resign.
'Great support''Great support'
The meeting has been billed as crucial for his efforts to remain prime minister.The meeting has been billed as crucial for his efforts to remain prime minister.
After it got underway, Charles Clark, a former home secretary, and Slough MP Fiona McTaggart told the prime minister stood up and called for him to quit, BBC political editor Nick Robinson said.After it got underway, Charles Clark, a former home secretary, and Slough MP Fiona McTaggart told the prime minister stood up and called for him to quit, BBC political editor Nick Robinson said.
But BBC political correspondent James Landale said MPs, crammed into the committee room, cheered and banged desks to greet the PM's entrance.But BBC political correspondent James Landale said MPs, crammed into the committee room, cheered and banged desks to greet the PM's entrance.
Mr Brown told the room that he was not pleading for unity but arguing for it.Mr Brown told the room that he was not pleading for unity but arguing for it.
As several peers left the meeting for a vote, loyalist Lord Foulkes said there had been "great support for Gordon" and when Charles Clarke spoke "no-one even put their hands together". Another ex-home secretary, David Blunkett, also told the meeting that the rebels should "put up or shut up", the BBC has been told.
As several peers left the meeting for a vote, loyalist Lord Foulkes said there had been "great support for Gordon" and when Mr Clarke spoke "no-one even put their hands together".
Conservative leader David Cameron said Mr Brown and his critics were locked in "a slow dance of political death".Conservative leader David Cameron said Mr Brown and his critics were locked in "a slow dance of political death".
"He can't seem to reshuffle his cabinet but they can't seem to organise a coup," he told Tory activists in Wales - where the Conservatives pushed Labour into second place in the European elections."He can't seem to reshuffle his cabinet but they can't seem to organise a coup," he told Tory activists in Wales - where the Conservatives pushed Labour into second place in the European elections.
'Not reappointed''Not reappointed'
Mr Brown has been reshuffling his junior ministers, following last week's cabinet reshuffle and departure of six cabinet ministers and several other ministers.Mr Brown has been reshuffling his junior ministers, following last week's cabinet reshuffle and departure of six cabinet ministers and several other ministers.
Part of that process has seen the departure of Ms Kennedy, Liverpool Wavertree MP, who has quit the government before - as health minister in 2006 over NHS reforms.Part of that process has seen the departure of Ms Kennedy, Liverpool Wavertree MP, who has quit the government before - as health minister in 2006 over NHS reforms.
She is well known in Labour circles for campaigning against the Militant Tendency in Liverpool in the 1980s.She is well known in Labour circles for campaigning against the Militant Tendency in Liverpool in the 1980s.
I've been unhappy for some time about briefings against individuals, leaks, smears against colleagues. Jane Kennedy Analysis: Brown's crunch meetingI've been unhappy for some time about briefings against individuals, leaks, smears against colleagues. Jane Kennedy Analysis: Brown's crunch meeting
She told the BBC: "I was asked if I wanted to stay in government and if I did, would I give an assurance that I would be in support of Gordon Brown?She told the BBC: "I was asked if I wanted to stay in government and if I did, would I give an assurance that I would be in support of Gordon Brown?
"I wasn't able to give them that assurance and therefore I have not been reappointed to the government.""I wasn't able to give them that assurance and therefore I have not been reappointed to the government."
Asked why she could not support him, she said: "I've been unhappy for some time about briefings against individuals, leaks, smears against colleagues.Asked why she could not support him, she said: "I've been unhappy for some time about briefings against individuals, leaks, smears against colleagues.
"It's a style, a type of politics that I have fought against all my working life since battling against the Militant Tendency here in Liverpool. It's not a kind of politics that I want to be associated with.""It's a style, a type of politics that I have fought against all my working life since battling against the Militant Tendency here in Liverpool. It's not a kind of politics that I want to be associated with."
Resignation 'regretted'Resignation 'regretted'
She added: "I have to do what I believe is right and I'm afraid for Gordon I can't support him as leader."She added: "I have to do what I believe is right and I'm afraid for Gordon I can't support him as leader."
Mr Brown's spokesman said the prime minister "did not ask for any pledge of loyalty from her or any other minister".Mr Brown's spokesman said the prime minister "did not ask for any pledge of loyalty from her or any other minister".
The spokesman said: "The prime minister was aware of Jane Kennedy's intention to stand down. He spoke to her this morning.The spokesman said: "The prime minister was aware of Jane Kennedy's intention to stand down. He spoke to her this morning.
There has been turbulence, undoubtedly, but our reaction needs to be and will be not to turn in on ourselves, not to be disunited Harriet HarmanLabour deputy leader Labour slumps to historic defeat UKIP beats Labour to second place Brown defiant amid leadership rowThere has been turbulence, undoubtedly, but our reaction needs to be and will be not to turn in on ourselves, not to be disunited Harriet HarmanLabour deputy leader Labour slumps to historic defeat UKIP beats Labour to second place Brown defiant amid leadership row
"She explained her reasons and he said that he regretted the fact that she had decided to stand down but if that was her decision, then that was a matter for her.""She explained her reasons and he said that he regretted the fact that she had decided to stand down but if that was her decision, then that was a matter for her."
And Communities Secretary John Denham rejected complaints about bullying and smears, telling the BBC that the party had paid tribute to the work of Hazel Blears and James Purnell - who quit the cabinet last week.And Communities Secretary John Denham rejected complaints about bullying and smears, telling the BBC that the party had paid tribute to the work of Hazel Blears and James Purnell - who quit the cabinet last week.
"I don't think that is briefing against people. I don't think that's bullying. I think that's trying to treat colleagues fairly," he said."I don't think that is briefing against people. I don't think that's bullying. I think that's trying to treat colleagues fairly," he said.
Ms Kennedy was replaced by Jim Fitzpatrick in a reshuffle of junior ministers which also saw Ivan Lewis, Gillian Merron and sisters Maria and Angela Eagle promoted.Ms Kennedy was replaced by Jim Fitzpatrick in a reshuffle of junior ministers which also saw Ivan Lewis, Gillian Merron and sisters Maria and Angela Eagle promoted.
ReshuffleReshuffle
Sadiq Khan was announced as the new Transport Minister and will be the first Muslim MP to attend Cabinet in the role. Angela Smith was made minister of state at the Cabinet Office.Sadiq Khan was announced as the new Transport Minister and will be the first Muslim MP to attend Cabinet in the role. Angela Smith was made minister of state at the Cabinet Office.
Lord Drayson and Bill Rammell took up roles at the Ministry of Defence and Dawn Primarolo was moved to the Department of Children, Schools and Families, replacing Beverley Hughes, who resigned last week.Lord Drayson and Bill Rammell took up roles at the Ministry of Defence and Dawn Primarolo was moved to the Department of Children, Schools and Families, replacing Beverley Hughes, who resigned last week.
Meanwhile Labour MP Sally Keeble announced she was withdrawing her support for Mr Brown in a letter to her constituents in Northampton North.Meanwhile Labour MP Sally Keeble announced she was withdrawing her support for Mr Brown in a letter to her constituents in Northampton North.
Later she told the BBC Mr Brown had not been able to "command authority" within government.Later she told the BBC Mr Brown had not been able to "command authority" within government.
Ever since James Purnell's dramatic resignation from the cabinet there has been what one of those working to unseat the prime minister describes as "a battle of the bodies". Nick RobinsonBBC Political Editor Read Nick Robinson's blogEver since James Purnell's dramatic resignation from the cabinet there has been what one of those working to unseat the prime minister describes as "a battle of the bodies". Nick RobinsonBBC Political Editor Read Nick Robinson's blog
She said the cabinet should "talk to Gordon about his position": "It's time for us to move on and I think those closest to him should talk to him about that."She said the cabinet should "talk to Gordon about his position": "It's time for us to move on and I think those closest to him should talk to him about that."
Labour MP Frank Field, the leader of last year's 10p tax rebellion, accused Mr Brown's allies of trying to "terrorise" Labour MPs into sticking with him by the threat of an immediate general election.Labour MP Frank Field, the leader of last year's 10p tax rebellion, accused Mr Brown's allies of trying to "terrorise" Labour MPs into sticking with him by the threat of an immediate general election.
Mr Field said there was no reason a new leader would have to call an election before next spring.Mr Field said there was no reason a new leader would have to call an election before next spring.
He said: "Labour cannot win with the present prime minister.He said: "Labour cannot win with the present prime minister.
"I was one of the seven who would not support his coronation after Tony Blair was shoehorned out of Number 10. But even I didn't think a Brown administration would be as inept as this one.""I was one of the seven who would not support his coronation after Tony Blair was shoehorned out of Number 10. But even I didn't think a Brown administration would be as inept as this one."
'Delusional''Delusional'
But Mr Brown's deputy, Harriet Harman told the BBC the government would not "throw in the towel".But Mr Brown's deputy, Harriet Harman told the BBC the government would not "throw in the towel".
"What we won't be doing is wringing our hands, being disunited, turning in on ourselves," she said."What we won't be doing is wringing our hands, being disunited, turning in on ourselves," she said.
"Our obligation is to sort out the economy and protect people and sort out the expenses problem and we will do both these things.""Our obligation is to sort out the economy and protect people and sort out the expenses problem and we will do both these things."
HAVE YOUR SAYLet's hope that we are entering a new age; one in which Labour can be consigned to the dustbin of history.Barry, Deeping St. James Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYLet's hope that we are entering a new age; one in which Labour can be consigned to the dustbin of history.Barry, Deeping St. James Send us your comments
"I think there is nobody better placed in terms of taking the economy forward than Gordon Brown.""I think there is nobody better placed in terms of taking the economy forward than Gordon Brown."
Influential Labour backbencher Jon Cruddas said it was "delusional" for critics of the prime minister to identify leadership instead of policy as the source of the party's problems.Influential Labour backbencher Jon Cruddas said it was "delusional" for critics of the prime minister to identify leadership instead of policy as the source of the party's problems.
He told BBC Radio 4's The World At One: "There's all these resignations but there's no differences in policy - that's what I don't understand.He told BBC Radio 4's The World At One: "There's all these resignations but there's no differences in policy - that's what I don't understand.
"Everyone's walking away and taking their bat home with them, but they are not staking out different ideological or policy-based ground.""Everyone's walking away and taking their bat home with them, but they are not staking out different ideological or policy-based ground."