Quite right !!!!!

MPs urge Brown to sack Miliband

The media met Mr Miliband as he arrived at BBC Radio 2's studios Profile: David Miliband Nick Robinson's blog

Two Labour backbenchers have called for David Miliband to be sacked over an article which led to speculation he wanted to succeed Gordon Brown.

The foreign secretary had "overstepped the line", Geraldine Smith said, while fellow MP Bob Marshall-Andrews accused him of "duplicitous" behaviour.

The Guardian article discussed Labour's future without mentioning Mr Brown.

But Mr Miliband told BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine show that he was "not running a leadership campaign".

He insisted Labour was "not down and out", despite last week's by-election defeat in Glasgow East and poor poll ratings.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7534729.stm

No one beleives you including ME!!!!

Labour not down or out - Miliband

The media were waiting for Mr Miliband as he arrived at BBC Radio 2's studios

Labour is "not down and out", despite its recent by-election defeat in Glasgow and poor poll ratings, Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said.

The party was "determined" to be clear about its values, and ensure a "real choice at the next election", he added.

Mr Miliband told BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine he was "not running a leadership campaign" against Gordon Brown.

But two Labour backbenchers want him to be sacked over an article which led to speculation he wanted to be leader.

Geraldine Smith said Mr Miliband was "trying to stir up trouble" with a piece in The Guardian talking about Labour's future which did not mention Mr Brown.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7534729.stm

I'm on holiday and not going !!!

Brown dismisses resignation calls

Gordon Brown outlines his priorities

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has dismissed calls for his resignation, saying he is determined to take the "right decisions" for the country.

He was speaking on a visit to a country park in Norfolk, at the start of his summer holiday.

Questions have been raised about Mr Brown's leadership after Labour's shock defeat at the Glasgow East by-election.

It comes as ministers, unions and activists meet to discuss a blueprint for the next election manifesto.

Mr Brown and his wife Sarah started their summer holidays with a visit to Whitlingham Country Park, near Norwich, ahead of a break at the seaside resort of Southwold, Suffolk.

Mr Brown said: "I'm getting on with the job and I think it's important that in difficult economic circumstances we take the right decisions for the future to get fuel prices down, to get food prices down, to make sure we get the housing market moving...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7527142.stm

Good ol' straw !!

Straw backs Brown to remain as PM

Jack Straw has made public his support for the prime minister

Jack Straw has said he is "absolutely convinced" that Gordon Brown remains the "right man" to lead Labour.

The by-election defeat in Glasgow East was disappointing, but it would be a "big mistake" for Labour to turn in on itself now, the justice secretary said.

It is the first time he has spoken out publicly in support of the prime minister since Thursday's defeat.

Mr Straw told the BBC he had no plans to mount a leadership bid, despite reports an ally is canvassing support.

Mr Straw, who has been touted as a potential caretaker leader, had previously made it known he wanted Labour to close ranks behind Mr Brown, without coming out publicly in support of him.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7527390.stm

Bstards !!

Harman denies planning leader bid

Ms Harman says Mr Brown is the "solution" not the "problem"

Harriet Harman has insisted she is "not preparing the ground for a leadership election" amid growing speculation over Prime Minister Gordon Brown's future.

The Commons Leader rejected a Times report she was overheard telling aides after Labour's Glasgow East by-election defeat: "This is my moment."

Mr Brown has been under pressure since Labour saw its majority overturned by the SNP in last Thursday's poll.

Two Labour MPs have openly called for him to consider resigning.

But Downing Street sources told the Press Association that reports Ms Harman and Foreign Secretary David Miliband were preparing leadership challenges were "garbage".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7531576.stm

Bstard !!

Miliband denies 'leadership' bid

David Miliband praises Gordon Brown as a leader

David Miliband has insisted he is not "campaigning" for the Labour leadership - despite writing about the party's future with no mention of Gordon Brown.

He said he was prompted to write his Guardian article because of the sense of "fatalism" in the party after its defeat in the Glasgow East by-election.

"Can Gordon lead us into the next election and win? Yes. I'm absolutely confident about that," he said.

He said his article was challenging David Cameron, rather than Mr Brown.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7532691.stm

74% answered "for the worse" What do they know ?????

Poll watch: June 2008

In the latest Poll Watch, the BBC's political research editor, David Cowling, reviews the political opinion polls published in the UK in June.

Mr Brown marked his first anniversary as PM in June

June marked the first anniversary of Gordon Brown's premiership - and the public's verdict in the polls proved far from complimentary.

ICM/Guardian (sampled 20-22 June) reminded respondents that Mr Brown had taken over from Tony Blair one year ago and asked whether the prime minister's "personal leadership style has proved to be a change for the better or a change for the worse?"

Some 74% answered "for the worse" and this group included 60% of Labour voters (overall 14% said "for the better", including 28% of Labour voters).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7494986.stm

Isolate Zimbabwe , it'll keep interest away from home

Brown urges Zimbabwe 'isolation'

Brown statement on the G8 Summit

Gordon Brown has urged the UN to use the "full weight of the international community" to isolate the "illegitimate" state of Zimbabwe.

In a statement to MPs on this week's G8 summit, he said there was a "growing international coalition for change".

He also outlined G8 action on oil and food prices and climate change, including a target to halve global carbon emissions by 2050.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7499551.stm

Stealth tax , MEEEE?????NEVER!!!!

Brown attacked over road tax plan

David Cameron and Gordon Brown clash over road tax

David Cameron has told Gordon Brown he will be ousted if he does not drop his "deeply unpopular" plans for higher road tax on more polluting cars.

In angry question time exchanges, he challenged Mr Brown: "Don't you understand that if you don't get rid of it, they will get rid of you?"

But the PM said the Tory leader sounded "more like a used car salesman".

Some green groups say the tax should apply to new cars only, rather than all cars bought since 2001.

Owners of some of the oldest cars could face a tax rise of as much as £200 - a move which the Conservatives and many Labour MPs say will hit poorer drivers the hardest.

It's not my backbenchers who are telling me to get on my bike David Cameron Conservative leader

Mr Brown insisted that 24 of the top 30 models of car would incur the same vehicle excise duty or lower.

But Mr Cameron hit back: "What you are doing is treating the Ford Focus as one model - in fact there are 40 models of the Ford Focus. You've got the saloon and the estate."

He said owners of only three of these 40 models would be better off. "When are you going to stop using such dodgy statistics to back up your figures?"

And as Labour MPs jeered, Mr Cameron quipped: "I don't know why you're all shouting at me - it's the prime minister who's given you the lowest poll rating since Michael Foot."

'Stealth tax'

Mr Brown, who taunted the Tory leader for riding his bike to work while a car followed with his bags, said: "When are the Conservative Party going to be honest when they say they support green taxes and then they run away from every one of them?

"You are sounding more and more like a used car salesman today."

Mr Cameron replied: "It's not my backbenchers who are telling me to get on my bike."

We haven't got a problem with green taxes but they have got to be fair and the retrospective bit of this tax is not fair Ronnie Campbell Labour MP

He said the road tax rise was "not a green tax, it's a stealth tax". "What on earth is green about taxing someone who bought a Ford Mondeo five years ago?"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7435575.stm

You know you can afford it all 9 million of you !!

Road tax increase 'will hit 9.4m'

Labour backbenchers have criticised the reforms to the road tax system New car tax rates

An estimated 9.4 million motorists will have to pay more road tax under reforms aimed at punishing "gas-guzzling" vehicles, the government has admitted.

Official estimates say vehicle excise duty will rise for 43% of vehicles made since 2001 - by up to £245 for the most polluting ones - but will fall for 18%.

The AA said the figures, for 2010-11, confirmed "our worst fears", while the Tories said the PM misled Parliament.

No 10 rejected that suggestion and said the aim was to cut carbon emissions.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7498884.stm

I'm Heathcliff

I'm an older Heathcliff, says PM

'Come down from dithering heights'

Gordon Brown has said it is "absolutely correct" to compare him to Heathcliff - the brooding, romantic anti-hero of Emily Bronte's novel Wuthering Heights.

In a New Statesman interview the prime minister was told: "Some women say you remind them of Heathcliff."

He replied: "Maybe an older Heathcliff, a wiser Heathcliff."

He said unlike Heathcliff, he did not "generally" lose his temper. But Bronte expert Ann Dinsdale said the character was actually "not an ideal role-model".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7497903.stm