Fresh Calls for Labour Leadership Contest
A leading Labour backbencher has urged the Prime Minister to call a leadership election.
John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, reckons an election would allow Labour an "open, friendly and democratic" discussion on the future direction of the Party.
Speaking earlier on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr McDonnell said: "We have got to address the problem we experienced last year by not having a leadership election and a proper debate about the future of the party.
"Gordon Brown should welcome that. It is not the old politics of John Major saying 'Back me or sack me'. It is saying 'Here is my politics and my ideology. If people have other views, let them name themselves and stand and let's have that debate and that leadership election'."
Mr McDonnell's comments come at a time of mounting speculation that several Labour Big Guns, including Common's Leader Harriet Harman and Foreign Secretary David Miliband, are aligning themselves as potential successors to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Mr McDonnell denied that a leadership race would be damaging to Labour, at a time when they are already hugely unpopular in the polls.
"We could have a leadership election which is open, friendly and democratic and involves the whole country," he said.
That's right John, we could - it's called a General Election but I doubt your Government has either the balls or decency to call one knowing the inevitable outcome.
Elsewhere in Westminster village speculation is rife that Gordon Brown will hit the ground running with a major Cabinet reshuffle in September.
John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, reckons an election would allow Labour an "open, friendly and democratic" discussion on the future direction of the Party.
Speaking earlier on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr McDonnell said: "We have got to address the problem we experienced last year by not having a leadership election and a proper debate about the future of the party.
"Gordon Brown should welcome that. It is not the old politics of John Major saying 'Back me or sack me'. It is saying 'Here is my politics and my ideology. If people have other views, let them name themselves and stand and let's have that debate and that leadership election'."
Mr McDonnell's comments come at a time of mounting speculation that several Labour Big Guns, including Common's Leader Harriet Harman and Foreign Secretary David Miliband, are aligning themselves as potential successors to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Mr McDonnell denied that a leadership race would be damaging to Labour, at a time when they are already hugely unpopular in the polls.
"We could have a leadership election which is open, friendly and democratic and involves the whole country," he said.
That's right John, we could - it's called a General Election but I doubt your Government has either the balls or decency to call one knowing the inevitable outcome.
Elsewhere in Westminster village speculation is rife that Gordon Brown will hit the ground running with a major Cabinet reshuffle in September.
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