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/8090557.stm

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Brown's new cabinet meet in No 10 Brown's new cabinet meet in No 10
(40 minutes later)
Gordon Brown is meeting with his reshuffled cabinet for the first time, following a week of speculation about his future as prime minister. Gordon Brown's new cabinet is meeting for the first time following a week of speculation about his future as PM.
It comes after Labour suffered disastrous European election results, taking only 15% of the vote. He appears to have survived after being applauded at a meeting of Labour MPs, despite the party's disastrous 15% vote share in the European elections.
But at a meeting on Monday the PM was applauded by most Labour MPs. Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the party had "reached a settled view" and did not want a new leader.
And Foreign Secretary David Miliband said MPs had "reached a settled view" adding: "The Labour Party doesn't want a new leader. There is no vacancy." He said that the "leading candidate" to replace Mr Brown - Home Secretary Alan Johnson - backed the PM "to the hilt".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there was no challenger to Mr Brown and the "leading candidate", Health Secretary Alan Johnson, had backed the PM "to the hilt".
'Stand aside'
"We are not going to hand over a landslide to a Tory Party that doesn't have a clue how to take this country forward."
Ministers have started arriving in Downing Street for the weekly cabinet meeting.
I said what I said, I stand by it James PurnellI said what I said, I stand by it James Purnell
James Purnell, who quit as work and pensions secretary and called for Mr Brown to "stand aside" told the BBC he did not regret his decision. Mr Brown addressed a meeting of Labour MPs and peers on Monday night, in which several MPs told him he should quit but others cheered and banged desks in support of Mr Brown.
He said: "For me it was a very personal decision, I just knew I couldn't wake up on Friday and say something which I didn't think was the case. Mr Miliband said: "The Parliamentary Labour Party has reached a settled view about the leadership. The Labour Party does not want a new leader. There is no vacancy. There is no challenger.
"The leading candidate Alan Johnson has said he is backing the prime minister to the hilt."
'Stand aside'
Ministers are now in Downing Street for the weekly cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile James Purnell told the BBC he did not regret his "very personal" decision to quit last Thursday, saying: "I just knew I couldn't wake up on Friday and say something which I didn't think was the case.
"I said what I said, I stand by it, of course I can be happy if I turn out to be proven wrong and Gordon Brown leads the Labour Party to victory at the next election."I said what I said, I stand by it, of course I can be happy if I turn out to be proven wrong and Gordon Brown leads the Labour Party to victory at the next election.
He can't seem to reshuffle his cabinet but they can't seem to organise a coup Conservative leader David Cameron on Gordon Brown Byers joins calls for PM to quit UKIP beats Labour to second place
"I've got complete respect for people who stayed in the government who believe that's the right thing to do.""I've got complete respect for people who stayed in the government who believe that's the right thing to do."
'More collegiate' Mr Brown has come under fire for his style of leadership over recent days, including being accused of using women ministers as "female window dressing" and of sidelining the Parliamentary Labour Party.
He said he would be supportive and loyal to the party from the backbenches and would be concentrating on working for his constituents. Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw told the BBC Mr Brown appeared to understand he needed "to behave in a more collegiate way... I think he's acknowledged that the style of leadership needs to change".
Speaking earlier Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said Mr Brown's "style of leadership" must change.
He said Mr Brown appeared to understand he needed "to behave in a more collegiate way... I think he's acknowledged that the style of leadership needs to change".
"I think he's acknowledged that the way that Number 10 has been operating has not been in the interests of him or the Labour government.""I think he's acknowledged that the way that Number 10 has been operating has not been in the interests of him or the Labour government."
Labour MP John McFall, chairman of the Commons treasury committee, agreed there was "a lot of frustration" among MPs who felt alienated by the "hierarchical" system within the party.Labour MP John McFall, chairman of the Commons treasury committee, agreed there was "a lot of frustration" among MPs who felt alienated by the "hierarchical" system within the party.
He can't seem to reshuffle his cabinet but they can't seem to organise a coup Conservative leader David Cameron on Gordon Brown Byers joins calls for PM to quit UKIP beats Labour to second place
"There must be much closer engagement there and the prime minister said he will do that," he added."There must be much closer engagement there and the prime minister said he will do that," he added.
'Slow dance'
Environment minister Jane Kennedy became the latest minister to resign her post on Monday ahead of the meeting, saying she could not support Mr Brown as leader.Environment minister Jane Kennedy became the latest minister to resign her post on Monday ahead of the meeting, saying she could not support Mr Brown as leader.
She said: "I've been unhappy for some time about briefings against individuals, leaks, smears against colleagues.
Meanwhile, ex-minister Stephen Byers joined those saying the PM should quit.Meanwhile, ex-minister Stephen Byers joined those saying the PM should quit.
The meeting of the PLP had been billed as crucial for Mr Brown's efforts to remain prime minister. During Monday's PLP meeting Charles Clarke, a former home secretary and MPs Fiona McTaggart, Tom Harris and Siobhan McDonagh told Mr Brown he should quit.
During it, Charles Clarke, a former home secretary, told the prime minister he should quit, as did MPs Fiona McTaggart, Tom Harris and Siobhan McDonagh. But Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said there had been "no support" for the rebels who spoke and the meeting had been "overwhelmingly" supportive of the prime minister.
But BBC political correspondent James Landale said MPs, crammed into the committee room, cheered and banged desks in support of the prime minister.
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said there had been "no support" for the rebels who spoke and the meeting had been "overwhelmingly" supportive of the prime minister.
According to his spokesman, Mr Brown told the room he had "strengths and weaknesses" and that there were "some things I do well and some things not so well".
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
Another ex-home secretary, David Blunkett, also told the meeting the rebels should "put up or shut up", the BBC has been told.
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.
A ComRes survey for the Independent suggests Alan Johnson would cut Mr Cameron's advantage if the new home secretary were to become Labour leader.A ComRes survey for the Independent suggests Alan Johnson would cut Mr Cameron's advantage if the new home secretary were to become Labour leader.
It said the Tories would lead by 38% to 22% with Mr Brown at Downing Street, but with Mr Johnson at the helm Labour's support would rise to 26% and backing for David Cameron would fall to 36% - enough to deny the Conservatives an overall majority.It said the Tories would lead by 38% to 22% with Mr Brown at Downing Street, but with Mr Johnson at the helm Labour's support would rise to 26% and backing for David Cameron would fall to 36% - enough to deny the Conservatives an overall majority.