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/5326064.stm
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Clarke reignites leadership row | Clarke reignites leadership row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Former Home Secretary Charles Clarke has accused Gordon Brown of "absolutely stupid" behaviour during the furore over Tony Blair's leadership. | Former Home Secretary Charles Clarke has accused Gordon Brown of "absolutely stupid" behaviour during the furore over Tony Blair's leadership. |
| Mr Clarke told London's Evening Standard newspaper people were angry at pictures of Mr Brown smiling broadly as he left Downing Street on Wednesday. | Mr Clarke told London's Evening Standard newspaper people were angry at pictures of Mr Brown smiling broadly as he left Downing Street on Wednesday. |
| Mr Brown should have stopped the plots against Mr Blair and still had to prove he was fit to govern, Mr Clarke added. | Mr Brown should have stopped the plots against Mr Blair and still had to prove he was fit to govern, Mr Clarke added. |
| Minister Harriet Harman told critics to shut up or risk letting in the Tories. | Minister Harriet Harman told critics to shut up or risk letting in the Tories. |
| And Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said people should now "settle down". | And Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said people should now "settle down". |
| "People are entitled to their views but I don't think Charles' views represent the vast majority of my colleagues," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "People are entitled to their views but I don't think Charles' views represent the vast majority of my colleagues," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| Ms Kelly appealed for "a period of calm and reflection" following several days of open warfare among Labour MPs over when Tony Blair will step down. | Ms Kelly appealed for "a period of calm and reflection" following several days of open warfare among Labour MPs over when Tony Blair will step down. |
| Mr Brown ignored reporters' questions as he arrived to make a speech about Britishness in Edinburgh to kick off Labour's campaign for next May's Scottish elections. | Mr Brown ignored reporters' questions as he arrived to make a speech about Britishness in Edinburgh to kick off Labour's campaign for next May's Scottish elections. |
| Part of the problem is that he lacks confidence Charles Clarke on Gordon Brown Analysis: Brown feels heat href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5237874.stm" class="">Leadership contenders href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2006/blair_succession/default.stm" class="">Special report: Blair switch | |
| But any hopes Mr Blair's announcement on Thursday that he would quit within a year would end Labour's hostilities appear to have been shattered by Mr Clarke's intervention. | But any hopes Mr Blair's announcement on Thursday that he would quit within a year would end Labour's hostilities appear to have been shattered by Mr Clarke's intervention. |
| The former home secretary said Mr Brown should have reined in the backbench rebels who sparked the latest leadership crisis by calling for the prime minister to quit immediately. | |
| "What he should have done was come out strongly and distance himself from them," he told the Evening Standard. | "What he should have done was come out strongly and distance himself from them," he told the Evening Standard. |
| "He could have done that with a click of his fingers. This has been complete madness." | "He could have done that with a click of his fingers. This has been complete madness." |
| Mr Brown met Tony Blair on Wednesday after a day of open warfare - and a string of resignations - over Mr Blair's refusal to name a departure date or stand aside. | Mr Brown met Tony Blair on Wednesday after a day of open warfare - and a string of resignations - over Mr Blair's refusal to name a departure date or stand aside. |
| The meeting prompted speculation about a deal between Mr Blair and Mr Brown over Mr Blair's exit from Number 10 - an impression reinforced, says Mr Clarke, by a picture of Mr Brown grinning as he drove away from Downing Street. | The meeting prompted speculation about a deal between Mr Blair and Mr Brown over Mr Blair's exit from Number 10 - an impression reinforced, says Mr Clarke, by a picture of Mr Brown grinning as he drove away from Downing Street. |
| Mr Clarke said: "A lot of people are very upset and cross about that. It was absolutely stupid, a stupid, stupid thing to do." | Mr Clarke said: "A lot of people are very upset and cross about that. It was absolutely stupid, a stupid, stupid thing to do." |
| Mr Clarke said Mr Brown must "prove his fitness" to be prime minister. | Mr Clarke said Mr Brown must "prove his fitness" to be prime minister. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Does anyone outside Westminster and the media really care about when Blair goes? Ron, Porthcawl Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Does anyone outside Westminster and the media really care about when Blair goes? Ron, Porthcawl Send us your comments |
| "Part of the problem is that he lacks confidence. He is nervous," he said. | "Part of the problem is that he lacks confidence. He is nervous," he said. |
| "That could all change when the burden of waiting for the job is lifted from his shoulders and I think it probably will. But the problem is, nobody really knows. | "That could all change when the burden of waiting for the job is lifted from his shoulders and I think it probably will. But the problem is, nobody really knows. |
| "He is not where he should be at the moment. He is talented and brilliant but there are these little incidences like the grin in the car that build up a terrible picture." | "He is not where he should be at the moment. He is talented and brilliant but there are these little incidences like the grin in the car that build up a terrible picture." |
| 'Private arrangements' | 'Private arrangements' |
| Mr Clarke said ex-Health Secretary Alan Milburn, a close Blair ally who has suggested he might stand for the top job, was "leadership material". | |
| Clarke spells out the root of the anger felt about Gordon Brown BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full | Clarke spells out the root of the anger felt about Gordon Brown BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full |
| Former minister Frank Field also said Mr Brown "could have stopped the near destruction of the government if he had wanted but didn't". | |
| Mr Field argued a leadership contest was needed to "test" the chancellor and he suggested Cabinet ministers John Reid and Alan Johnson could be candidates. | |
| Pundits believe Mr Brown put pressure on Mr Blair to quit earlier than he wanted to when they met on Wednesday. | Pundits believe Mr Brown put pressure on Mr Blair to quit earlier than he wanted to when they met on Wednesday. |
| But the chancellor insisted there were no "private arrangements" between himself and the prime minister over a departure date, telling reporters on Thursday it was for Mr Blair to decide when he goes. | But the chancellor insisted there were no "private arrangements" between himself and the prime minister over a departure date, telling reporters on Thursday it was for Mr Blair to decide when he goes. |
| Mr Brown used an article in the Sun newspaper to praise Mr Blair's "courageous" leadership. | Mr Brown used an article in the Sun newspaper to praise Mr Blair's "courageous" leadership. |