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| Brown's new cabinet meet in No 10 | Brown's new cabinet meet in No 10 |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown's new cabinet is meeting for the first time following a week of speculation about his future as PM. | Gordon Brown's new cabinet is meeting for the first time following a week of speculation about his future as PM. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the party had "reached a settled view" and did not want a new leader. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the party had "reached a settled view" and did not want a new leader. |
| He said that the "leading candidate" to replace Mr Brown - Home Secretary Alan Johnson - backed the PM "to the hilt". | He said that the "leading candidate" to replace Mr Brown - Home Secretary Alan Johnson - backed the PM "to the hilt". |
| I said what I said, I stand by it James Purnell | I said what I said, I stand by it James Purnell |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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." | "The leading candidate Alan Johnson has said he is backing the prime minister to the hilt." |
| 'Stand aside' | 'Stand aside' |
| Ministers are now in Downing Street for the weekly cabinet meeting. | Ministers are now in Downing Street for the weekly cabinet meeting. |
| Meanwhile James Purnell, the cabinet minister who quit last Thursday and called on Mr Brown to "stand aside", has told the BBC he did not regret his "very personal" decision. | Meanwhile James Purnell, the cabinet minister who quit last Thursday and called on Mr Brown to "stand aside", has told the BBC he did not regret his "very personal" decision. |
| "I just knew I couldn't wake up on Friday and say something which I didn't think was the case. | "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 | 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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". | 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". |
| "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. |
| "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' | 'Slow dance' |
| Environment minister Jane Kennedy became the latest minister to resign from 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 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 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. |
| James Purnell says he hopes to be proved wrong about Gordon Brown | James Purnell says he hopes to be proved wrong about Gordon Brown |
| 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. |