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Left MPs 'unite to target Brown' | |
(40 minutes later) | |
Gordon Brown looks increasingly likely to face a Labour leadership challenge after claims there will only be one left-wing candidate. | |
Labour MP Michael Meacher and John McDonnell - who had been planning separate bids - have agreed one of them will withdraw, Meacher's camp said. | |
They are expected to meet on the day Mr Blair stands down and compare how much backing they have among Labour MPs. | They are expected to meet on the day Mr Blair stands down and compare how much backing they have among Labour MPs. |
The one with the fewest nominations will step aside and back the other. | The one with the fewest nominations will step aside and back the other. |
This will boost the prospect that one or the other can gain the 45 nominations needed to be entered in the ballot. | This will boost the prospect that one or the other can gain the 45 nominations needed to be entered in the ballot. |
Mr Blair is widely tipped to step down within days of 3 May's elections in Scotland, Wales and English local authorities. | Mr Blair is widely tipped to step down within days of 3 May's elections in Scotland, Wales and English local authorities. |
"It would not make sense to split the left-wing vote," a spokesman for the Meacher campaign told the BBC News website. | "It would not make sense to split the left-wing vote," a spokesman for the Meacher campaign told the BBC News website. |
He said Mr Meacher and Mr McDonnell were in talks over which one of them would stand down. | He said Mr Meacher and Mr McDonnell were in talks over which one of them would stand down. |
He dismissed claims in The Guardian newspaper that Mr Meacher had only a handful of supporters among Labour MPs, saying the former environment minister had 24 "signed nominations". | He dismissed claims in The Guardian newspaper that Mr Meacher had only a handful of supporters among Labour MPs, saying the former environment minister had 24 "signed nominations". |