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/6598683.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Left rivals unite to target Brown | Left rivals unite to target Brown |
(20 minutes later) | |
Gordon Brown looks increasingly likely to face a Labour leadership challenge after it emerged there will only be one left-wing candidate. | Gordon Brown looks increasingly likely to face a Labour leadership challenge after it emerged there will only be one left-wing candidate. |
Labour MPs Michael Meacher and John McDonnell - who had been planning separate leadership bids - have agreed one of them will withdraw. | Labour MPs Michael Meacher and John McDonnell - who had been planning separate leadership bids - have agreed one of them will withdraw. |
They are expected to meet on the day Tony Blair resigns and compare how much backing they have among Labour MPs. | They are expected to meet on the day Tony Blair resigns 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 of them will be able to gain the 45 nominations needed to be entered in the ballot. | This will boost the prospect that one of them will be able to gain the 45 nominations needed to be entered in the ballot. |
Mr Blair is widely tipped to step down within days of elections in Scotland, Wales and English local authorities, to be held on 3 May, although there is press speculation he may stand down before polling day. | Mr Blair is widely tipped to step down within days of elections in Scotland, Wales and English local authorities, to be held on 3 May, although there is press speculation he may stand down before polling day. |
'Delighted' | 'Delighted' |
The chancellor is the runaway favourite to take over as leader and his campaign group says he already has the support of 217 Labour MPs - more than half of the Parliamentary party. | The chancellor is the runaway favourite to take over as leader and his campaign group says he already has the support of 217 Labour MPs - more than half of the Parliamentary party. |
But the chances of him facing a contest rose after warring left-wing rivals Mr McDonnell and Mr Meacher agreed to bury the hatchet in a meeting on Thursday evening. | But the chances of him facing a contest rose after warring left-wing rivals Mr McDonnell and Mr Meacher agreed to bury the hatchet in a meeting on Thursday evening. |
"We are delighted that after weeks of our campaign trying to secure this deal Meacher has finally agreed. We only hope he sticks to it," a spokesman for the McDonnell campaign told the BBC News website. | "We are delighted that after weeks of our campaign trying to secure this deal Meacher has finally agreed. We only hope he sticks to it," a spokesman for the McDonnell campaign told the BBC News website. |
"The Labour movement now has the prospect of a real contest for the leadership of our party. John McDonnell will have the nominations required to challenge Gordon Brown." | "The Labour movement now has the prospect of a real contest for the leadership of our party. John McDonnell will have the nominations required to challenge Gordon Brown." |
A Meacher spokesman said: "It would not make sense to split the left-wing vote." | A Meacher spokesman said: "It would not make sense to split the left-wing vote." |
There has been little love lost between the rival left-wing contenders, with Mr McDonnell recently branding Mr Meacher "deluded" in his blog. | There has been little love lost between the rival left-wing contenders, with Mr McDonnell recently branding Mr Meacher "deluded" in his blog. |
Nominations | |
This followed claims by Mr Meacher, in a letter to the Guardian, that Mr Brown was frightened of a challenge from the former environment secretary. | This followed claims by Mr Meacher, in a letter to the Guardian, that Mr Brown was frightened of a challenge from the former environment secretary. |
He claimed a story in the Guardian newspaper - that he had just three supporters - had originated from the Brown camp. | He claimed a story in the Guardian newspaper - that he had just three supporters - had originated from the Brown camp. |
The Meacher campaign said their man had 24 "signed nominations," although it refused to release any names. | |
A spokesman also claimed Mr McDonnell had just 15 nominations - something vigorously denied by the McDonnell camp, which insists it has enough support to get on to the ballot. | |
Mr McDonnell, champion of the left wing Campaign Group of MPs, has been drumming up support for a leadership bid since last summer. Mr Meacher entered the race in February. | |
The prospect of a Cabinet-level challenge to Mr Brown has all but disappeared after Environment Secretary David Miliband insisted he was "not a candidate," although Home Secretary John Reid has not ruled out a bid. | |
There is also speculation a challenge from the left might flush out a Blairite contender, such as former home secretary Charles Clarke, raising the prospect of a three-way contest for the leadership. |