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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brown 'won't face serious fight' | Brown 'won't face serious fight' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| It appears unlikely that Gordon Brown will face a major contest for the Labour leadership when Tony Blair steps down, Tessa Jowell is to say. | It appears unlikely that Gordon Brown will face a major contest for the Labour leadership when Tony Blair steps down, Tessa Jowell is to say. |
| He will take over without a challenge from a senior minister, the culture secretary will predict in a speech. | He will take over without a challenge from a senior minister, the culture secretary will predict in a speech. |
| Home secretary John Reid said on Sunday Labour would not be fractured after Mr Blair goes - remarks that commentators are saying indicate he will not stand. | Home secretary John Reid said on Sunday Labour would not be fractured after Mr Blair goes - remarks that commentators are saying indicate he will not stand. |
| Any contest is likely to be between Mr Brown and one of two left-wing MPs. | Any contest is likely to be between Mr Brown and one of two left-wing MPs. |
| When asked about the leadership contest on Sunday, Mr Reid said there would be unity in the Labour Party, up to and beyond this week's local elections. | When asked about the leadership contest on Sunday, Mr Reid said there would be unity in the Labour Party, up to and beyond this week's local elections. |
| While not completely ruling out a leadership bid, Mr Reid said the Labour Party would not be "fractured" once the prime minister resigned and there would be "a coming together of the Labour leadership". | While not completely ruling out a leadership bid, Mr Reid said the Labour Party would not be "fractured" once the prime minister resigned and there would be "a coming together of the Labour leadership". |
| 'Tribalism' | 'Tribalism' |
| He told BBC One's Sunday AM programme: "The election that matters to me is the election which places before the British people the choice between Conservatives and Labour." | He told BBC One's Sunday AM programme: "The election that matters to me is the election which places before the British people the choice between Conservatives and Labour." |
| Ms Jowell will echo those comments in a speech in London on Monday, saying it is time to bring an end to tribalism within New Labour, with no more so-called Blairites and Brownites. | Ms Jowell will echo those comments in a speech in London on Monday, saying it is time to bring an end to tribalism within New Labour, with no more so-called Blairites and Brownites. |
| If there is only a challenge from a left-wing candidate, Tony Blair is expected to come out in support of Gordon Brown once the contest to replace him gets under way. | |
| Last week Labour MPs Michael Meacher and John McDonnell - who had been planning separate leadership challenges - announced they were uniting in their bid to target Mr Brown. | Last week Labour MPs Michael Meacher and John McDonnell - who had been planning separate leadership challenges - announced they were uniting in their bid to target Mr Brown. |
| They agreed one of them would withdraw, depending on the level of backing they had when Mr Blair steps down. | They agreed one of them would withdraw, depending on the level of backing they had when Mr Blair steps down. |