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/5331590.stm

The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Brown offers challenge to critics Brown offers challenge to critics
(30 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has challenged his political opponents by declaring he would welcome a Labour leadership contest after Tony Blair stands down.Gordon Brown has challenged his political opponents by declaring he would welcome a Labour leadership contest after Tony Blair stands down.
In an interview for the BBC's Sunday AM programme the chancellor also denied he was involved in an attempt to unseat the prime minister.In an interview for the BBC's Sunday AM programme the chancellor also denied he was involved in an attempt to unseat the prime minister.
On Saturday Mr Blair warned of the risk to Labour if the infighting continued.On Saturday Mr Blair warned of the risk to Labour if the infighting continued.
Mr Brown has said it was wrong to assume he was smiling in photographs because of the pressure on the PM.Mr Brown has said it was wrong to assume he was smiling in photographs because of the pressure on the PM.
The prime minister's likely successor had earlier been criticised by former Home Secretary Charles Clarke for grinning after he left a meeting with Mr Blair.The prime minister's likely successor had earlier been criticised by former Home Secretary Charles Clarke for grinning after he left a meeting with Mr Blair.
But Mr Brown told the News of the World newspaper: "A photographer with a long lens got me joking to one of the people who works for me about my young family. There was nothing else."But Mr Brown told the News of the World newspaper: "A photographer with a long lens got me joking to one of the people who works for me about my young family. There was nothing else."
Speculation about the Labour leadership continues to dominate the Sunday newspapers.Speculation about the Labour leadership continues to dominate the Sunday newspapers.
I am happy for there to be a leadership contest - I think there should be Gordon Brown Harman call on policy Papers focus on leadershipI am happy for there to be a leadership contest - I think there should be Gordon Brown Harman call on policy Papers focus on leadership
According to the minister for constitutional affairs, Harriet Harman, party members were disillusioned by policies identified with Tony Blair.According to the minister for constitutional affairs, Harriet Harman, party members were disillusioned by policies identified with Tony Blair.
The Iraq war now symbolises "mistrust and division" between Labour's leadership and voters, she told the Sunday Times. The Iraq war now symbolises "mistrust and division" between Labour's leadership and voters, she wrote in the Sunday Times.
The prime minister faced further questions about his leadership on a trip to Israel for talks on Middle East peace.The prime minister faced further questions about his leadership on a trip to Israel for talks on Middle East peace.
However, at a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart, Mr Blair repeated a call he wanted an end to personal attacks in his party. However, at a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart Ehud Olmert, Mr Blair repeated a call he wanted an end to personal attacks in his party.
'Ill advised''Ill advised'
Mr Brown will restate his readiness for a leadership contest and determination to lead a "government of all the talents" in the pre-recorded interview with the Sunday AM programme.Mr Brown will restate his readiness for a leadership contest and determination to lead a "government of all the talents" in the pre-recorded interview with the Sunday AM programme.
Speaking in the interview with Andrew Marr, which was recorded on Saturday, he said he was not aware of the letter by Labour MPs calling for Mr Blair to stand down before it was made public and would have said it was "ill advised" if he had been consulted about the letter.Speaking in the interview with Andrew Marr, which was recorded on Saturday, he said he was not aware of the letter by Labour MPs calling for Mr Blair to stand down before it was made public and would have said it was "ill advised" if he had been consulted about the letter.
And interviewed for the first time since the turmoil surrounding the Labour leadership began, Mr Brown told the News of the World: "I am happy for there to be a leadership contest. I think there should be.
Any suggestion that I or those acting for me were directly involved in this is absolute nonsense Gordon BrownAny suggestion that I or those acting for me were directly involved in this is absolute nonsense Gordon Brown
And interviewed for the first time since the turmoil surrounding the Labour leadership began, Mr Brown told the News of the World: "I am happy for there to be a leadership contest. I think there should be.
"This is not a time for deals, this is not a time for private statements," he added, although he conceded that "there is an issue, obviously, when a prime minister says that he is not going to contest the next election"."This is not a time for deals, this is not a time for private statements," he added, although he conceded that "there is an issue, obviously, when a prime minister says that he is not going to contest the next election".
His comments come after Mr Clarke accused him of being a "control freak" who lacked the courage to take tough decisions.His comments come after Mr Clarke accused him of being a "control freak" who lacked the courage to take tough decisions.
Mr Brown rebuffed the criticisms, insisting: "I am a team player."Mr Brown rebuffed the criticisms, insisting: "I am a team player."
He also denied claims he sees himself as the prime minister's anointed successor and believes he should assume the leadership in an unopposed "coronation". Mr Brown denied he was grinning about the crisis
And, rejecting suggestions he encouraged a rebel letter that sought to undermine Mr Blair, the chancellor went on: "I made it very clear to people all week, privately, that Tony should make his own decision and we should support that decision. He also denied claims he saw himself as the prime minister's anointed successor and believed he should assume the leadership in an unopposed "coronation".
And, rejecting suggestions he encouraged a rebel letter that sought to undermine Mr Blair, the chancellor said: "I made it very clear to people all week, privately, that Tony should make his own decision and we should support that decision.
"Any suggestion that I or those acting for me were directly involved in this is absolute nonsense.""Any suggestion that I or those acting for me were directly involved in this is absolute nonsense."
The chancellor said the idea that "personal tension" between himself and the prime minister prompted an argument when they met at Downing Street on Wednesday was "completely wrong".The chancellor said the idea that "personal tension" between himself and the prime minister prompted an argument when they met at Downing Street on Wednesday was "completely wrong".
Blair's plea
Peter Hain - secretary of state for Northern Ireland and Wales - has said anyone who hopes to defeat Mr Brown in a leadership contest faced a "forlorn mission".Peter Hain - secretary of state for Northern Ireland and Wales - has said anyone who hopes to defeat Mr Brown in a leadership contest faced a "forlorn mission".
Mr Brown denied he was grinning about the crisis
"In my view I don't think anyone else could or should beat Gordon," he told the Independent on Sunday."In my view I don't think anyone else could or should beat Gordon," he told the Independent on Sunday.
On Saturday, Mr Blair made a keynote speech at the 10th anniversary conference of a New Labour think tank, the Progress Organisation, in central London.
He said: "We can either - after the kind of spasm of last week retreat into personal attacks... or we can say we are going in a mature, intelligent, and capable way to describe to the country what we've done."
Sunday AM presented by Andrew Marr will be broadcast on Sunday 10 September 2006 at 0900 BST on BBC One.Sunday AM presented by Andrew Marr will be broadcast on Sunday 10 September 2006 at 0900 BST on BBC One.