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Straw to run Brown leadership bid Straw to run Brown leadership bid
(about 2 hours later)
Jack Straw has announced he is to run Gordon Brown's campaign for the Labour leadership - the first official confirmation the chancellor will stand.Jack Straw has announced he is to run Gordon Brown's campaign for the Labour leadership - the first official confirmation the chancellor will stand.
He told BBC One's Sunday AM Mr Brown had helped make the UK a "better, fairer, more prosperous place", and had vision to deal with new challenges.He told BBC One's Sunday AM Mr Brown had helped make the UK a "better, fairer, more prosperous place", and had vision to deal with new challenges.
Earlier, in a letter to MPs, he said the campaign would not begin until Mr Blair set out his departure plans. Ex-Cabinet minister Peter Mandelson told the programme younger Labour MPs should decide on a new leader.
The public had "uncertainties" about Mr Brown becoming PM, he added.
Mr Blair has said he will step down by September, and is expected to announce his resignation shortly after the Scottish and Welsh elections on 3 May.
Mr Brown is favourite to succeed him.
'Vigorous campaign'
Earlier, in a letter to MPs, Mr Straw said the Brown campaign would not begin until Prime Minister Tony Blair had set out his departure plans.
I've had very, very positive responses from a very broad spectrum of the parliamentary party Jack Straw Letter to MPs: In full
MPs Michael Meacher and John McDonnell have already said they plan to stand.MPs Michael Meacher and John McDonnell have already said they plan to stand.
It will be a personal pleasure for me to help ensure that Gordon Brown becomes our next prime minister Jack Straw class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6492449.stm">Letter to MPs: In full It is not yet clear whether they can each secure the nominations of 44 other MPs needed to take part in the election.
Meanwhile, Downing Street has denied a newspaper report that Mr Blair told political allies Environment Secretary David Miliband could win the Labour leadership election. Mr Straw said there would be a "vigorous campaign" for Mr Brown to take over from Mr Blair.
Sunday's Observer reported that Mr Blair said that if Mr Miliband were to stand "he will win", but sources at Number 10 said: "The prime minister has not said that." "It is very striking, in the 12 hours since my letter went out electronically... I've had very, very positive responses from a very broad spectrum of the parliamentary party," he said.
Sources close to Mr Miliband would not be drawn into the new speculation that he may stand for the Labour leadership. Asked if Mr Brown should go unchallenged to become leader, Mr Straw said he remained "entirely neutral" on the matter.
A spokesman for the environment secretary pointed to comments made to the BBC several weeks ago when Mr Miliband repeated his desire to see Mr Brown take over. And he scotched newspaper reports of Mr Blair's backing for Environment Secretary David Miliband as new leader as "completely untrue".
'Positive transformation' According to Sunday's Observer, Mr Blair said that if Mr Miliband were to stand "he will win", but sources at Number 10 also denied the claim.
Mr Brown is the favourite to succeed Mr Blair, who has said he will go by September. Public 'uncertainties'
Mr Straw sent an electronic letter to MPs saying Mr Brown was "supremely well qualified" to build on the achievements of Tony Blair's premiership. Mr Mandelson said it was "obvious" there should be a proper contest to decide who should lead the party after Mr Blair.
In it, he says: "It will be a personal pleasure for me to help ensure that Gordon Brown becomes our next prime minister, and continues the positive transformation of the country which Labour has secured since 1997." Asked about the speculation over Mr Miliband, he said he wanted the "younger generation of Labour MPs to decide who they want to see leading the party".
The Commons leader, who jointly ran Mr Blair's successful leadership campaign in 1994, says he will be putting together a team and conducting preparatory work over the coming weeks. He said there was no "innate problem" with Mr Brown becoming prime minister but that "the public have uncertainties" about the way he would operate.
However, he stressed the "paramount priority" for the party was the Scottish and Welsh elections on 3 May. In Mr Straw's letter, sent by e-mail to MPs, the Commons leader hailed Mr Brown as "supremely well qualified" to build on the achievements of Mr Blair's premiership.
Two MPs - John McDonnell and Michael Meacher - have declared their intention to stand for the Labour leadership but it is not yet clear whether either can secure the nominations of 44 other MPs needed to take part in the election. Mr Straw, who jointly ran Mr Blair's successful leadership campaign in 1994, says he will be putting together a team and conducting preparatory work over the coming weeks.
But he stressed the "paramount priority" for the party was May's Scottish and Welsh elections on 3 May.