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Tories accuse Brown of 'cronyism' Tories accuse Brown of 'cronyism'
(about 2 hours later)
The Tories have accused Chancellor Gordon Brown of "blatant cronyism" by offering a Labour MP a "plum job" to free up a seat for a close ally.The Tories have accused Chancellor Gordon Brown of "blatant cronyism" by offering a Labour MP a "plum job" to free up a seat for a close ally.
Mr Brown had given West Yorkshire MP Colin Challen a job working with economist Sir Nicholas Stern, shadow minister Chris Grayling said. Mr Brown had appointed West Yorkshire MP Colin Challen to a climate taskforce with economist Sir Nicholas Stern, shadow minister Chris Grayling said.
He said this would clear the way for Mr Brown's former aide, Ed Balls, to fight Mr Challen's constituency. He said this would clear the way for Mr Brown's ally, Ed Balls, to fight the new seat created by boundary changes.
Mr Balls's own seat of Normanton is to be dissolved under boundary changes. Treasury sources said there was no taskforce and no job for Mr Challen.
Mr Challen announced last month that he was to step down at the next general election as MP for Morley and Rothwell to concentrate on campaigning for global action on climate change.Mr Challen announced last month that he was to step down at the next general election as MP for Morley and Rothwell to concentrate on campaigning for global action on climate change.
Stern reviewStern review
In a letter to party members, he said he would be working with Sir Nicholas, author of last year's Stern Review, which warned about the economic impact of climate change.In a letter to party members, he said he would be working with Sir Nicholas, author of last year's Stern Review, which warned about the economic impact of climate change.
On Tuesday, Sir Nicholas told MPs on the Treasury select committee: "My understanding is that we're looking at some ideas on how economists and parliamentarians can talk to each other.On Tuesday, Sir Nicholas told MPs on the Treasury select committee: "My understanding is that we're looking at some ideas on how economists and parliamentarians can talk to each other.
Colin Challen led the Parliamentary Climate Change GroupColin Challen led the Parliamentary Climate Change Group
"Colin and I haven't had a chance to get together and work out the details, but I must say I am very happy to do it."Colin and I haven't had a chance to get together and work out the details, but I must say I am very happy to do it.
He added: "The chancellor has asked me personally if I would be interested in doing this and I said that I am. I agreed it was a good idea. "He added: "The chancellor has asked me personally if I would be interested in doing this and I said that I am. I agreed it was a good idea. "
Mr Balls was Mr Brown's chief economics adviser, before becoming an MP in 2005. Mr Balls was Mr Brown's chief economics adviser, before becoming an MP for Normanton in 2005.
Boundary changes will abolish one of the West Yorkshire seats and originally both Mr Balls and Mr Challen had applied to stand in the new Morley and Outwood constituency.Boundary changes will abolish one of the West Yorkshire seats and originally both Mr Balls and Mr Challen had applied to stand in the new Morley and Outwood constituency.
This is unacceptable behaviour for a man who would be prime minister Chris GraylingThis is unacceptable behaviour for a man who would be prime minister Chris Grayling
Conservative frontbencher Chris Grayling said it was "yet more evidence of Gordon Brown's blatant cronyism."Conservative frontbencher Chris Grayling said it was "yet more evidence of Gordon Brown's blatant cronyism."
He said: "Only two months ago, Colin Challen was adamant he'd be standing against Ed Balls for the Labour candidacy for the new Morley and Outwood constituency.He said: "Only two months ago, Colin Challen was adamant he'd be standing against Ed Balls for the Labour candidacy for the new Morley and Outwood constituency.
"Less than two months later Challen had changed his mind, clearing the way for Brown's closest crony to get a safe seat."Less than two months later Challen had changed his mind, clearing the way for Brown's closest crony to get a safe seat.
"Now we know why - Gordon Brown had given him a plum job in a high-profile climate change taskforce. This is unacceptable behaviour for a man who would be prime minister.""Now we know why - Gordon Brown had given him a plum job in a high-profile climate change taskforce. This is unacceptable behaviour for a man who would be prime minister."
Mr Balls was Mr Brown's most senior adviser at the Treasury before becoming an MP and has been tipped as possible future Chancellor. 'No job'
However, Treasury sources have told the BBC that there is no taskforce and there is no job for Mr Challen.
The Treasury said he had decided to set up international conferences in his role as chairman of the All-Parliamentary Group on Climate Change.
The conferences were "fully independent of the government".
"Mr Challen wrote to the chancellor some weeks ago, proposing that Professor Stern join him in working on the conferences.
"The chancellor passed that proposal on to Professor Stern, who was happy to agree," the Treasury said in a statement.