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| Media spotlight turns on Brown | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The political spotlight turns on Gordon Brown as he visits Scotland amid speculation the prime minister will reveal his plans to stand down. | |
| It is thought Tony Blair will leave office by the Labour conference in autumn 2007, possibly next May. | |
| Mr Brown will travel to Edinburgh on Thursday for a private meeting with Labour MSPs at the Scottish Parliament. | |
| It comes the day after low level government resignations and claims of an attempted coup by the chancellor. | It comes the day after low level government resignations and claims of an attempted coup by the chancellor. |
| Mr Blair and Mr Brown were said to have to have had an "acrimonious meeting" on Wednesday over Labour's future. | |
| If it's May 31, that I have to say would be totally unacceptable to the Scottish party Jim DevineLabour MP Scottish fears over Blair crisis | |
| With Scottish Parliament elections taking place next May, at least one Scottish MP has voiced concern over the continued uncertainty over Mr Blair's intentions and at reported plans he is to quit on 31 May. | |
| Jim Devine, Labour MP for Livingston, said: "If it's May 31, that I have to say would be totally unacceptable to the Scottish party." | |
| He added: "The thought that we are going to be running an election campaign for the Scottish Parliament between April and May with this type of speculation running, accompanied by a Frank Sinatra-type farewell tour, just will not wash." | |
| Exit call | |
| But Pensions Minister Jim Murphy claimed disquiet within the party was limited to only a handful of MPs. | |
| He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The Labour Party collectively, and certainly those most involved in this, have to take a step back." | |
| The MP for East Renfrewshire added: "The way this is going to play out is that the prime minister may say that a year is about the time that he envisages to stay in Downing Street, he'll say no more than that. | |
| There's a small number who wish to see the prime minister, not leaving Downing Street in an orderly transition, but bundled out the back door immediately Jim MurphyPensions Minister | |
| "My concern has always been that if he named a year, some people would wish to know which month, my worry is that if he says which month, some people will say which week and if he says which week, some people will say which day. | |
| "What we have to do, all of us as members of parliament, is accept that there's a small number who wish to see the prime minister, not leaving Downing Street in an orderly transition, but bundled out the back door immediately." | |
| The chancellor's Scottish visit will begin in Glasgow, where he will be joined by former Olympic gold medallist Sir Steven Redgrave at an event to mark the opening of the UK Schools Games. | |
| Later Mr Brown will travel to Edinburgh to meet Labour MSPs before attending a private banking reception. | |
| The prime minister showed no signs the speculation was concerning him | |
| The Scottish National Party taunted First Minister Jack McConnell over the visit at Holyrood on Wednesday. | |
| Mr McConnell is thought to have closer ties to Mr Blair than to Mr Brown. | |
| Four Scottish MPs were among the 15 Labour MPs who signed a letter urging Mr Blair to stand down this week. | |
| They were Jim Sheridan (Paisley and Renfrewshire North), Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith), Anne MacKechin (Glasgow North) and David Hamilton (Midlothian). | |
| Another Scottish MP, Tom Harris (Glasgow South) became transport minister after the resignation of junior government members. |